378 The Hunting Countries of England. 



and walks_, witti all the vigour of a young man. Not 

 only are his coverts of the greatest service ; but 

 hounds are constantly exercised in his park, amid the 

 deer and game. On this point (and on a much wider 

 one) both sections of the Cheshire are especially 

 fortunate ; for all over the county are scattered large 

 parks and friendly neighbours. Foxhunting is the 

 county pastime ; and the county families maintain it 

 religiously. Round Oulton the ground is deep and 

 undrained (though right good country, especially in 

 spring) ; hounds can nearly always run well ; and 

 their field follow as best they may. Fortunately, the 

 fences are small ; so riders can struggle on, without 

 having to diverge from the direct wake of hounds. 

 The Weaver may possibly come in their way ; in which 

 case they must look for the best ford at hand. For 

 the river, running frequently through deep gorges is 

 not to be jumped. Along its banks are the MinshuU 

 Dingles, a belt of excellent covert. Following the 

 stream thus, we come to Middlewich, where the 

 country becomes sounder — as, indeed, it is towards 

 Crewe, Capt. Park Yates's farthest point on the 

 edge of the North Staffordshire. And here, too, 

 the soil is chiefly laid down in grass : and some arti- 

 ficial gorses have been set to assist the natural 

 coverts. 



Delamere Forest, though much reduced from its 

 erst magnificence, still boasts of some thousands of 

 acres of woodland ; and, backed by the Mickledale 

 Hills and their rough, gorse grown ridges, presents 

 an invaluable sphere for cubhunting. Capt. Park 

 Yates has a hunting box close to the Kennels, as 



