The Duke of Grafton's, 401 



Grafton's country dovetails into wtiat is almost a 

 common junction-point of four hunts ; and a man who 

 plants himself anywhere near this point can secure an 

 almost daily change of scene and surroundings. 



The finest runs of the Duke of Grafton's hounds 

 have more often been across their neighbour's ground ; 

 and this was remarkably the case last season — when 

 their most notable run of all (from Canons Ashby) 

 was, after the first three miles, entirely over Bicester 

 and Warwickshire country, till it culminated at 

 Shuckburgh. But it is the Duke's country in itself 

 that we have to consider, and this contains everything 

 from light plough to strong deep grass, and from 

 small artificial coverts to dense woodlands and forest 

 ranges. In some parts the fences are light and easy ; 

 in others they are as formidable as even those of the 

 Pytchley. Their favourite fixtures lie along their 

 northern border — many of those in the north-west 

 being on ground similar to the stiif grand country 

 across the boundary ; others nearer Towcester are on 

 arable ; while some of those in the north-east, on the 

 Bugboro' and Weedon side are on the same stoutly 

 bullfinched ground that extends across the Pytchley 

 to Shuckburgh and beyond. 



Through the centre of the country run two good 

 grass vales, somewhat cut up, unfortunately, by the 

 lines of railway which thread them : while to the 

 south are the great glades of Whittlebury Forest and 

 Wakefield Park; and on the east the rough acreage 

 of Salsey Forest. The fences throughout the country 

 are of a simple hedge-and-ditch type ; but range 

 between the extremes of insig-uificance and imprac- 



