THE COUNTRY AND THE HORSE REQUIRED. 237 



master of hounds want more ! Provided the ground is 

 not too hard, a start is made directly the corn is cut in 

 the vicinity of the woodlands, generally about the last 

 week in August, and then all proceeds merrily. 



There are miles upon miles of woodland, and, except 

 on the wolds, flanked by grass fields. Beginning near 

 Brocklesby Station, they extend by way of Brocklesby, 

 and Limber and Kirmington to Grasby Bottom, and thence 

 to Caistor Gates, Pelham Pillar, Swallow Cross-roads, and 

 Kiby, and it is at meets in this neighbourhood that the 

 greatest number put in an appearance. The marshes and 

 the Bradley Vale are perhaps too exacting, the north-west 

 not sufiiciently productive of sport, and the south and 

 south-east too hilly. Here there is unlimited grass, plenty 

 of gates, very few fences to jump, and '''coffee-housing" 

 in its happiest form. 



The following extract from a manuscript in Lord Yar- 

 borough's possession shows the extent of the woodlands, 

 etc., at Brocklesby about 1850 : — 



Estimated quantity 

 of land planted. 



2851 1 19 



Estimated quantity 



of land taken up 



by rides. 



427 28 



Estimated quantity 

 of fox-coverts. 



113 3 11 



Total quantity of 



land within the 



fences. 



A. K. V. 



3392 1 IS 



Length 

 offences. 



Length 

 of rides. 



MILKS. MILES. 



89 I 91J 



Yet the Brocklesby on the whole is a most satisfactory 

 and sporting country, for every kind of hunting-man is 

 catered for. The fixtures in this district are generally at 

 Brocklesby Hall, a breakfast meet, Hendale Lodge, Grasby 

 Bottom, Bigby Bridge, Howsham Station, Pelham Pillar, 

 Swallow Cross-roads, Riby Hall (breakfast), and Riby Cross- 

 roads. Howsham Station perhaps lies outside the woodland 

 district, and Poolthorn and Pepperdale, across the railway, 

 are generally the first places to draw, but hounds always 

 get to the woodlands sooner or later. There is a capital 

 bit of country lying between the railway and the road from 

 Caistor to Brigg, but it runs to poor sandy, rabbit-holed 

 soil near the former town. Hounds do not often hunt the 



