258 Hunting Countries of England, 



of their northernmost limits plentiful rain has 

 moistened the surface, and a straight fox starts close 

 in front of hounds. Then there is galloping free and 

 fierce — never a fence to hinder, never a lion to turn 

 you from your path. But the rest of the upland is 

 chilly wold ; and the deep lowlands carry none too 

 vigorous a scent. 



The South Berks lies thus, with reference to its 

 neighbours — On the north it has the Old Berkshire 

 (west of the Thames), and across the river the South 

 Oxfordshire, with some of the beech woods of the 

 Chiltern Hills in the loop of the stream. The eastern 

 boundary is defined by the little river Loddon, 

 which separates it from Mr. Garth^s country. On the 

 south it has the Vine, and borrows from it all its tract 

 of woodland and fir plantation that is contained be- 

 tween the streams of the Kennet and the Loddon, 

 down to and including the Forest of Pamber. On the 

 west is the wide territory of the Craven. Henley to 

 Newbury gives the widest points of the South Berks ; 

 but Reading is sufficient mark for the traveller, wishing 

 to make trial of the country. It is within an hour's 

 journey from London (Paddington) : and the 9 a.m. 

 train will ensure his being in time for most of the 

 meets. 



The South Berks advertise for four days a week — - 

 occasionally treating themselves to a byeday in 

 addition. Their country is naturally divided into two 

 parts, differing widely in their nature — the one being 

 the light soil of the downs and wold, the other deep 

 clay and woodland. For distinction's sake we may 

 speak of them respectively as The Hills and The 



