88 The Hunting Countries of England. 



ground and tlie chance of a pleasant ride in tlie little 

 vale about Baddesley, or_, rather, between Cbilwortb 

 Hill and Romsey, with strong woods in the immediate 

 neighbourhood. Baddesley Wood is a boggy place; 

 which you should know your way about, before 

 venturing in without a pilot : and the fences outside 

 are large rough banks^ often thickly perforated with 

 rabbit holes. 



Chilworth stands on higher ground, with some little 

 open table land in its neighbourhood. Lord^s Wood, 

 just beyond, lies in a very rough district with many 

 awkward bogs. 



The Chilworth property belongs entirely to Mrs. 

 Fleming ; who, like the rest of the covertowners here- 

 abouts, preserves foxes staunchly and goes in but little 

 for game. Nightingale Wood (Lord Mount-Temple's) 

 is a very favourite wood of considerable size. As a 

 matter of fact, the distance between Chilworth and 

 Stoneham is almost continuous woodland. Stoneham 

 Park contains some most useful ground for harbouring 

 foxes — to wit, ferns, rocks, &c. It has, besides, a 

 home covert — a sure find. One of the best runs the 

 Country ever saw was from here. A strong woodland 

 fox took them right up to the north of the country, 

 and was killed at Littleton — a point of at least nine or 

 ten miles, after a run of two hours and twenty-five 

 minutes. Hursley Park is the residence of Sir 

 William Heathcote, who is the largest landowner and 

 one of the best supporters of the Hunt. There is 

 some covert in the Park itself ; and Hursley Common^ 

 a fine wood close to Cranbury Park, also belongs to 

 Sir William. It contains a great deal of gorse and 



