The South Berkshire. 259 



Woodlands, by which terms they are more commonly 

 ■known in their own locality. Thus the Hills are 

 hunted twice a week, Tuesday and Friday, the 

 Woodlands on Monday and Thursday. Should there 

 be a byeday, it will take place on Saturday, wherever 

 room can be found. In the stiff deep country of the 

 Woodlands you must have a strong horse and a 

 steady one. He must be able to move through the 

 dirt; he must have length to cover the wide deep 

 ditches, and sense — or education — to walk and climb 

 over the thick-grown banks that divide the small 

 inclosures between the woods. " Long, low, and 

 wide,^^ the old description, is still the best here. The 

 same horse will carry you well enough over the wold 

 and common of the Bradfield and Bucklebury district ; 

 but, if you have variety in your stable, keep your 

 best galloper for the downs in the north-west corner 

 of the country. He need have no notion of jumping, 

 but he must be able to gallop down hill without 

 faltering, up hill without distress, and, at a pinch^ for 

 half an hour without a pull. 



Taking the Hills first, it must be noted that the 

 Tuesdays and Fridays alternate with each other every 

 week between the down and the wold — in the tract of 

 ground which is north of the Kennet and west of the 

 Thames. The Downs are at their best when much 

 and recent rain has fallen ; and then you may have a 

 gallop for which a thoroughbred is none too fast. 

 Where, however, the down has been broken up into 

 wold, and the flints lie thick on the weak ploughland, 

 there can never be any pace ; and hounds must labour 

 on incessantly to earn blood. The coverts are the 



