94 The Hunting Countries of England. 



Hambledon and its hilly wold comes a great stretch 

 of woodland, written down as the Forest of Bere^ but 

 now more generally known as ^^ The Liberties " — and 

 reaching almost from Bishop's Waltham to the eastern 

 edge of the country. It is only, however, in the 

 extreme east that the mass of wood is so great that 

 there is anything to preclude the feasibility of driving 

 a fox quickly into the open. Even there much of the 

 timber has been swept away, and given place to 

 agriculture. Once in the open a fox has the choice 

 before him of turning up over the wold and making 

 for Old Winchester Hill, or of running the nice vale 

 which, nearly all grass about Southwick, continues 

 with grass and plough intermixed for many miles 

 along the railway to Bishop stoke. As the Atlas 

 would convey, there is scarcely a break in the style 

 of country, as you pass Wickham, Botley, take in 

 Bishop's Waltham, and go on by Durley to Bishop- 

 stoke. The enclosures are small, the fences are 

 hedges (mostly trimmed, never laid) on a bank with 

 a ditch on one side and often on both ; the soil is a 

 stiff clay, and scent is generally fair, often good. 

 The Southwick neighbourhood, indeed, is considered 

 the cream of the country ; and a find there seldom 

 fails to lead to good results. Last season (1880-1881) 

 the Hunt was treated to two of their best runs from 

 Southwick. 



It will be easily understood that for the Hambledon 

 vale and woodland a clever horse, shortlegged and 

 strong-backed, is required : while on the hills a turn 

 of speed is desirable, or even essential. 



The hunting days of the Hambledon are Monday, 



