The Woodland Pijtehley. 151 



Welland and these woods is another good strip of 

 turf ; and beyond these^ at a short distance from 

 Harboro^ is Dingley looking across the stiffest of all 

 valleys to Waterloo Gorse, over the boundary. In the 

 southernmost portion of the country there are few 

 coverts — below the Duke of Buccleugh^s woods. 

 And between Cranford Gorse and Finedon Poplars 

 there is quite an open district of light plough and 

 little fences, reaching to the None. Oundle Wood in 

 the north east corner is a fine stronghold, and the 

 river runs through a beautiful green valley, unblessed, 

 however, by any tempting sheltering spots. 



The days of hunting are arranged thus. Monday 

 is a weekly advertisement, and generally for the 

 northern half of the country — the road from Thrapston 

 to Rockingham forming an approximate line of 

 division. The second day of the week is alternately 

 Thursday and Friday; and is more often in the 

 southern half. But no attempt is made at an absolute 

 rule — various considerations combining to render 

 adherence to a strict programme impossible. The 

 shooting season is not the least of these considerations 

 — the upper part of the country being strictly under 

 game-culture : so much so, that in the autumn there 

 is sometimes diflSculty in obtaining sufficient room for 

 foxhunting. 



The more prominent meets of the north are Rocking- 

 ham Castle, Harringworth Lodge, Bulwick, Deene 

 Park, Oundle Wood, Farming Wood (for Brigstock), 

 Sudborough and Lowick. In the south are Finedon, 

 Cranford, Boughton House, Oakley Hays, Hermitage 

 Farm (for Brampton Wood), Weekley Hall Wood, 

 Rushton Hall, and Dob Hall. 



