46 The Hunting Countries of England. 



neigHbourliood o£ Holton and Torrington — a ricli 

 grass vale stretcliing from Stainton Wood by Holton 

 and Torrington^ to Hainton in the Soutli Wold; and 

 this, although a narrow strip, is a line often taken by 

 foxes. Torrington Gorse is a never-failing find. In 

 the season ^76-^77 it was drawn not less than thirteen 

 or fourteen times, and always held a fox. It forms, 

 moreover, a link between the Wragby and Linwood 

 woodlands ; from one to the other of which both the 

 Burton and the Blankney are constantly running. If 

 they hit off the Torrington valley they may be on 

 grass most of the way; otherwise the journey is 

 over deep plough. But the whole is a wild sporting- 

 country; foxes must make a good point; and hounds 

 can go a great pace over it. 



On Thursdays the Burton are almost always on the 

 west of their country — in or near the valley of the 

 Trent. This district was at one time entirely grass — 

 little of which, however, has been allowed to survive. 

 Some little remains all along under the western edge 

 of the Cliff; but the bulk of it has been sacrificed 

 to the plough — and, worse than all, to the steam 

 jilough. To make it more difficult, too, the great 

 thorn fences and wide ditches of the old pastures still 

 exist; so your horse must combine great jumping 

 power with ability to make his way quickly through 

 dirt. And this, indeed, holds good with regard to 

 your mounts for the Burton country throughout. 

 You must ride strong horses, clever horses, and well- 

 bred horses — ^horses that can travel fast and yet aro 

 temperate and powerful withal at their jumps. The 

 country is essentially a deep one — being nearly all 



