166 The Hunting Countries of England. 



and of some size — even in the vale country — while 

 the Forest was once a continuous mass of rough covert, 

 large areas of which still exist. Hounds, therefore, 

 must be full of tongue, and must perforce, work for 

 themselves — a maxim that is held equally to apply 

 when their fox leads over the open, the stiff clay of 

 which may, or may not, hold a scent, as weather and 

 other conditions direct. When wet and warm, how- 

 ever, the vale is often good scenting ground, and is 

 then as pleasing an arena as any in the south 

 of England. The inclosures are small; a good deal 

 of grass is scattered here and there; banks and 

 ditches add to the pastime a zest, of which the riding 

 men of Surrey are well appreciative. A certain 

 number of county sportsmen live on the spot ; but by 

 far the larger proportion of the field are business men, 

 who, living in London or its suburbs, either keep a 

 horse or two on the scene or bring one with them by 

 rail for the day of hunting. The vale not only offers 

 them better sport and holiday ; but is much easier of 

 access than the Ashdown Forest ; and therefore it has 

 become a matter of custom for the Master to fix 

 Saturday as the subscribers^ day, between Keigate and 

 East G-rinstead or Hartfield — keeping The Forest and 

 the far south of the country for Wednesday's work. 

 The Kennels are at Smallfield Common near Burstow 

 (the nearest station being Horley, little more than an 

 hour's journey from Victoria Station) — and many a 

 long journey home have hounds to make after a forest 

 run. 



The outline of the Burstow country has been sub- 

 jected to, many variations in past years. The Surrey 



