238 Hunting Countries of England. 



up without chancing a fall. But, even allowing for 

 these contingencies_, you need not ruin yourself in first 

 outlay. To jump a strong fence out of deep ground, 

 or a stiff stile out of a wood, will be a test to occur 

 occasionally, and establish a standard which may 

 be reached without very wild extravagance. After 

 mentioning that Canterbury is about an hour and a 

 half from London (Victoria station), and Dover about 

 two hours, we may pass on to the leading points of 

 the country as usually hunted. 



The East Kent advertise for three days a week, and 

 generally add a bye day. Monday, Wednesday and 

 Friday are their regular days of hunting, leaving 

 Saturday open for the extra. Beyond setting apart 

 Wednesday for the south of the country, i.e.^ for the 

 Ashford Yale, or the upper ground just above it, they 

 keep to no absolute rules in allotting their meets. 

 Monday is more often within easy reach of the 

 Kennels, while the longer journeys are generally taken 

 on Fridays. The Kennels themselves are a very 

 frequent Monday meet, with a view to the home 

 coverts of Waldershare, which are numerous, and — 

 it is needless to add — abundantly stocked with foxes. 

 Easling Wood is the great stronghold of the series. 

 The Half- Way-House, on the Canterbury-and-Dover 

 road, is for a thousand acres of woodland under the 

 name of Woolwich Wood. The Black Mill is named 

 for the Nolden and Sleden Woods, each of some 

 hundreds of acres. Lydden means Lord^s Wood and 

 Alkham Yalley — the latter being a rough natural 

 covert in the hilly district between Folkestone and 

 Dover. Swingfield Park is another large wood at no 



