The Puekeridge. 113 



meets are N'ut]iampstead_, Old Hall Green, Layston 

 Cliiircli (a favourite fixture, witli tlie Capons in view), 

 Throcken (for Friar^s Broadfield, &c.), Munden, and 

 Bennington, with occasionally Watton for tlie Ware 

 district. Box Wood and Aston Bury in tlie extreme 

 west are neutral coverts with the Hertfordshire, for 

 which Walkern is a frequent meet. 



For a byeday, Hunsdon, Great Hadham (or Much 

 Hadham, as it is called in the language of the county), 

 and occasionally Standon, are usually chosen — with 

 coverts at Eastwick, Plashes, Blake''s Bushes (small 

 but well favoured), Buckney, and Culvers. 



To sum up, the best scent for the last three seasons 

 has been found in the Monday country, though in Mr. 

 Parry^s time the Saturday ground had the best repu- 

 tation. The Monday country has, as we have said, 

 the disadvantage of being extremely cramped, while 

 on Saturdays you find yourself with more room to 

 ride. Round Royston, for instance, the country is 

 very open, and the coverts only small plantations. 

 The greater part of the Puekeridge territory is well 

 stored with foxes, though, as we have hinted, there 

 are certain parts (east and south) where foxes might 

 have rather more chance given them, without buying 

 the goodwill of neighbours too dearly. 



