The Burton and the Blankney. 49 



fox on their way back to kennels. Stapleford Moor 

 is another fixture^, and this brings hounds among the 

 larg'e fir coverts and high heather which mark Lord 

 Middleton^s property in this neighbourhood. From 

 here, too, they draw the Norton-Disney woods_, to 

 both of which the Hunt are very partial^ on account 

 of the likehhood of crossing the river into the 

 Broughton district and getting upon the grass towards 

 Welhngore. Very valuable also might these woods 

 be for cub-hunting — but that hounds are not allowed 

 to enter them till late in the season. 



Between this point (Norton, &c.) and the River 

 Trent is an apparently nice sporting country (chiefly 

 small grass enclosures) ; but, owing to the unfriendly 

 disposition of various petty freeholders, there has of 

 late years been much difficulty with regard to foxes, 

 and in consequence hounds are seldom seen there. 



The surface soil of the Monday country in the main 

 consists of gravel or sand, which often holds a scent 

 when hounds cannot run a yard over the clay of the 

 lower ground. Such an inconsistency may now and 

 again be noticed^ when, on an otherwise perfect 

 hunting day, a loaded or frosty surface causes the 

 heavy plough to '^ carry,^-* and scent to be completely 

 annulled — when a change to the lighter soil perhaps 

 sets hounds running furiously. Wide ditches, small 

 hedges, and rotten banks, are the leading features of 

 the fences ; varied often by a wide dug drain. 



The Blankney Wednesdays may be set down as 

 belonging to the Wragby Woodlands. Of these 

 Key^s Wood, West Wood, and Chambers^ Wood are 

 perhaps the most popular, as being on the borders of 



