30 The Hunting Countries of England, 



THE EAST SUSSEX.* 



Sussex is a county whose claims for description 

 might, at least in the East, better be based on its 

 summer than its winter charms ; for it may well share 

 with its sister county Kent the appellation of the 

 Garden of England, and the very qualities which 

 call forth the term are in themselves rather against 

 than in favour of Foxhunting. East Sussex is very 

 freely, in parts almost continuously, wooded. Apart 

 from the woodlands, its rich deep soil, its strong and 

 carefully-kept fences, its well dug hopgardens — all 

 tend to beautify the country, but make it a difficult 

 scene for the chase of the fox. It is hilly too; 

 though not to a degree that interferes very much 

 with riding. In summer one is led to exclaim 

 rapturously of its beautiful wooded hills, of its fertile 

 and picturesque valleys. In winter one must own 

 with a groan that fertility has changed its name to 

 deep clay, and that sylvan beauty is now better 

 known as sticky woodland. But, for all that, fox- 

 hunting is carried on, well managed and well sup- 

 ported. The land and covert owners take care of the 



* Vide Stanford's " Hunting Map," Sheets 22 and 23, and 

 Hobson's Foxhuntinff Atlas. 



