208 The Hunting Countries of England. 



security. The field to assist in the chase, however^ 

 seldom exceeds twenty or thirty members. 



The southern portion of the country forms by far 

 the largest of the three sections we have spoken of — 

 stretching, as it does, from the town of Salisbury to 

 the edge of the great woodlands of Cranbourne Chace, 

 in the South and West Wilts territory. On the hills 

 are such meets as Toyde, for Lodge Bottom and the 

 Down ; Boulsbury Farm for Boulsbury Wood and 

 Martin Wood ; Jervoise^s Farm for Mr. Jervoise^s 

 gorse and Bishopston Gorse. Again, Martin Wood 

 or Vernditch may be named with a view to drawing 

 either of these fine coverts, or for the gorses on the 

 downs. Alderholt Mill, or Park, is the usual meet 

 for the southernmost of the range of riverside woods, 

 e.g., Mr. ChurchilPs, &c. ; Breamore for Breamore 

 Wood and Sir Edward Hulse^s other coverts; and 

 Homington and Charlton for Lord Eadnor^s own 

 coverts. Broad Chalk is also a hill fixture, on the far 

 west. 



In the south-east, or White Parish, corner, again, 

 are the meets of Whitcherington for Lord Eadnor^s 

 coverts on the east of the river ; Meanwood, for that 

 stronghold and Gatmore, &c. ; White Parish Hill, for 

 Mr. Bent's Gorse and the Bushes, with the big woods 

 to fall back upon. The Bushes was the starting point 

 of one of the best runs of last season ; when they took 

 their fox through the great Bentley Wood, to ground 

 at Buckholt after a very hard fifty minutes. 



The northern district owns some of the strongest 

 and most extensive woods of the country, backed by 

 lofty downs towards the Tedworth side. For the 



