98 The Hunting Countries of England. 



and which foxes will very seldom face_, down his 

 western border and into the Ledbury Country. The 

 Bredon Hill is an isolated eminence^ more practicable 

 for foxhounds in the extreme south-east ; and, with 

 these two landmarks in view from end to end of the 

 country, a stranger should find it difficult to lose his 

 way by daylight after his first week^s experience. 

 The Ridgeway is a rough hilly woodland overlooking^ 

 the Avon and the narrow vale separating 'it from The 

 Warwickshire Territory. What with the Severn and 

 the Avon, Lord Coventry's country is singularly 

 well dealt with in the matter of river-water and 

 heavy vale — the two streams forming their junction at 

 Tewkesbury after piercing the country, end to end, 

 from two different directions. Thus in times of severe 

 rain, such as in the years 1879-80, many miles of 

 ground are under the flood, and remain deep and wet 

 for months afterwards. A cold clay soil follows the 

 course of the rivers, and is common to a great part of 

 lower Worcestershire. A wet season accordingly 

 places the lower ground at the worst advantage. To 

 carry a scent it requires a dry and warm rather than a 

 wet and chilly winter : while, to offer pleasant riding, 

 the less water has been soaked into the soil the better. 

 Much of the country, again, is a rich loam rather than 

 a clay soil; and this, on the contrary, requires wet. 

 Without it, the grass may carry a scent, but the 

 plough will not. A great deal of grass is scattered 

 over the country in small meadows, especially round 

 and near the numerous villages. Agriculture, which 

 would appear to be the staple industry of Worcester- 

 shire, is carried on chiefly on the principle of small 



