244 The Hunting Countries of England. 



Stoke Edith Woods ran on a white clay, which never 

 gets soft even in the wettest weather ; and they form 

 the best of coverts for cubhunting. On the other side 

 of the country, the coverts of Whitfield (Major Clivers), 

 and the Mynd (Mr. Lutwyche^s), answer similar pur- 

 poses j and are also always looked upon as great strong- 

 holds ; and most of the country may lay claim to being 

 well preserved. 



The South Herefordshire seldom muster anything 

 approaching a large field ; but sometimes as many as 

 eighty, or even a hundred horsemen, may be seen out 

 in the Harewood and Trebandy Vale. 



Tuesday and Friday are Mr. Rankings hunting days 

 — the usual custom being to take the western half of 

 the country on the former day, the eastern on the 

 Friday. The opening meet is at the Master^s place, 

 Bryngwyn, where a strong wood covers the hillside 

 behind the house, and several great coverts of Mr. 

 Lutwyche^s extend beyond. To push a fox from these 

 hilly fastnesses is always a matter of difficulty, though 

 the last season or two has seen them leave more freely. 

 At Abbey Dore are very big and strong coverts of 

 Capt. Lewis's, whence a fox can either cleave to the 

 rough hills of the neighbourhood or dip into the strip 

 of vale containing the railroad. Whitfield is the meet 

 for Thruxton Yalletts and the extensive and deep- 

 rided coverts round. Lower Eaton points to Ruckhall, 

 and the smaller coverts by the river Wye. These as 

 well as Belmont, are the property of Mr. Wegg 

 Prosser. The latter place, only just outside Hereford 

 is constantly productive of good runs, for it is staunchly 

 preserved ; it lies in the midst of the open ground, and 



