344 The Hunting Countries of England. 



On a tolerable scenting day you have eveiy chance of 

 a gallop^ and, as has been already remarked, the 

 indulgence may generally be accepted without unfair- 

 ness to your horse. Yet, it must be confessed, the 

 steamplough is rapidly, and sadly, changing the face 

 of the Ruthins, and robbing them of their chiefest 

 merit. Where it used to be thought enough that the 

 mere crust of the sound firm soil should be disturbed, 

 the steamplough now tears through to the depth of a 

 foot — and to a difference of pleasure and possibility of 

 riding that may be imagined. Harlow (which is the 

 site of the Essex Kennels) and Bishops Stortford are 

 other points that command the Ruthins. They are 

 about the same distance from Town, and start from 

 the same base, as the other quarters we have named ; 

 and for variety they have the Puckeridge instead of 

 the Essex Union, with the same opportunity of a 

 gallop with the stag. We are now engaged upon 

 foxhunting ; but it is no heresy to say that a burst 

 after a stag in dusty March is not the worst item in 

 sporting Essex. You may, and must, ride hard from 

 beginning to end; for — as you who have hunted the 

 deer must know — the scent never fails and hounds 

 are seldom baffled. The chase of the carted deer is 

 but a spurious pastime, granted. But it is productive 

 of much merry fun ; and they do it comfortably — 

 heartily — in Essex, breakfasting a la fourchette et 

 Perrier Jouet at some hospitable centre, till the 

 broadest ditch in the Ruthins has no terrors for local 

 or Londoner. Saturday is the great day upon which 

 Essex rejoices in a field, and makes its best show. 

 Saturday is a home meet of the Essex Union, 



