The Whaddon Chase. 359 



rally devoted to the Cliase and its neiglibourliood, 

 while the other (Tuesday) is spent in the Vale proper. 



The Vale of Aylesbury is, par excellence, The Vale 

 of England. Its turf_, its fences, and its soil are 

 sounder, fairer, sweeter than even the Vale of Belvoir, 

 or the Blackmore Vale. It has more extent than the 

 Berkshire Vale ; and has more character than the 

 Vale of White Horse. The Catmose Vale alone can 

 rival it — and that is a name scarcely recognised, even 

 among the Cottesmore Hunt, who look upon their 

 hills as more typical of their Country than the lower 

 flat, between the old Tailby-grant and the woodlands, 

 which bears the title of the Vale of Catmose. 



The Vale of Aylesbury is one great dairy farm — 

 rich pasture from end to end. Comparison between 

 grass land and plough is worn-out and odious ; but 

 the fact must ever assert itself that, whether for 

 hounds or for horses, turf underfoot is a sine qiul no7i 

 for brilliant performance. Without it, each may be 

 hardworking, steady and solemn ; but without it there 

 can be little dash, no enthusiasm. They have it in 

 the Vale of Aylesbury to a perfect, heart -stirring 

 degree — till the wet falls, to choke their flippancy, 

 and suppress their elan. For the Vale holds water 

 shockingly ; and in a deep winter becomes a night- 

 mare slough. One week a springboard, the next it 

 is a treaclepot. At its best it represents a lovely 

 succession of sweet-scenting meadows, from whose 

 elastic face a horse bounds easily and gladly on to 

 sound firm banks, to light with equal safety on turf 

 renewed beyond — while hounds spread out at their 

 fences and carry a broad head from field to field. 



