226 The Hunting Countries of England. 



centre, belongs entirely to the former variety — being 

 cold clay ground which would seem to repel a scent. 

 Strong thorn fences, cut and laid, as well as a good 

 deal of stout timber, have to be faced in this region ; 

 and a powerful horse is needed. 



There are fewer coverts hereabouts than in many 

 parts of the country — but those few are in some 

 instances very large, e.g., Ockeridge Wood (Lord 

 Dudley^s). Coming northwards to Abberley, however, 

 you will see considerable woodlands ; and above 

 Abberley you enter a coal district where little 

 hunting is done. Very rough hilly ground overlooks 

 the river Teme, continuing by Hartley up to Shelsley 

 Beauchamp, which should naturally be a thorough fox 

 fastness. On the other side, the east, of the river, from 

 Droitwich northward by Stourport, Hartlebury, &c., 

 to Kidderminster, you will find a thin sandy soil, 

 portioned out only by small easy fences. From Barnt 

 Green downwards along the eastern edge of the country 

 are continual chains and masses of woods. The same 

 cold, but here not bad scenting, clay comes in again 

 about the south-east of the country, between Himble- 

 ton and Feckenham — the soil improving somewhat as 

 you near Worcester and reach the Bredicot and 

 Warndon neighbourhood, where the Spetchley Park 

 coverts (Mr. Berkeley's) and the Worcester Woods 

 (Mr. Parker's) always ensures foxes and fair play to 

 the master. On the opposite side of the town of 

 Worcester, again, some good ground is also to be found 

 — the Cotheridge and Doddenham district owning a 

 soil applicable in some parts to hop culture. But it 

 fails too often in the one requisite virtue that might 



