The Vine. 255 



the least lie may make certain of a doorway at tlie corner 

 of eacli field, big enough for the passage of a waggon. 

 In the " woodland " part of the country, on the other 

 hand, the ground is much deeper, while the enclosures 

 are small, and are separated one from the other by 

 broad banks with a ditch on one side. A strong 

 steady horse is therefore the animal required here ; 

 and, as anything will carry you over the wolds, it 

 follows that the same horse will answer your purpose 

 throughout the Vine country. Taking into considera- 

 tion, then, that pace is not altogether a necessary 

 quality in your mount, it is safe to say that a cobby, 

 shortlegged, class of horse will be found the best 

 conveyance with the Vine ; and that you need never 

 put yourself in the unhappy position of hazarding at 

 every jump two hundred guineas more than you can 

 afford. 



Of Tuesday^s leading meets and coverts we have 

 Clerken Green or Oakley Hall, for the woods on the 

 south-east, viz., St. John^s Wood_, Dean Heath, BulFs 

 Bushes, South Wood, &c. — all well preserved. Dean 

 Gate is for Ash Park, Bramdown, Berrydown, and 

 Burley, a number of contiguous woods generally 

 holding foxes. Popham Beacons means Cobley, 

 Southington Scrubs or the Steventon coverts ; or 

 hounds may be taken to Black Wood (neutral with 

 the H.H.). At Freefolk Wood, or from Laverstoke 

 House, they draw the former,, or Laverstoke Wood, 

 Bound Wood, &c. 



On a Thursday they have Hannington for Hanning- 

 ton Scrubs, and the Dean^s AVoods. From Ashe 

 Warren they go to Nutley (a noted source of good 



