The North Staffordshire. 257 



avoided, in favour of a fence of less obdurate nature. 

 For it must be remembered tliat a strong post and rails 

 seldom represents here the only possible outlet from a 

 field — as it often does in some other countries, where 

 fences, themselves impracticable, have their gaps 

 mended up with sturdy timber, and this alone gives a 

 chance of escape from an otherwise secure imprison- 

 ment. A Cheshire fence, on the contrary, is seldom 

 unjumpable at all, and generally fairly practicable 

 everywhere. Even if it secures you a fall, it is one of 

 a nature very different, both in present sensation and 

 subsequent afterthought, to the somersault over high 

 rails. The one probably induces only a wholesome 

 contempt and a satisfactory increase in the self confi- 

 dence that makes a man ride straight for pleasure. 

 The other is likely to be detrimental at the time and 

 harmful in the future — engendering a lively distrust in 

 horseflesh, and a dislike of rash experiment, that is all 

 against a man^s further reputation or enjoyment. 

 Everybody does not put it to himself in this fashion ; 

 but a good many act upon a similar course of reason- 

 ing — the result being, with most men of experience, 

 that the majority only take timber for choice when 

 quite assured that they have a timber -jumper under 

 them — the rest go round to avoid it. 



But to continue. This outer vale is pretty well-off" 

 for coverts, though a few gorses distributed here and 

 there would prove of great service in filling up occa- 

 sional voids. There are, for instance, good coverts at 

 Doddiugton (Mr. Broughton^s), which are noted for 

 foxes. Also in the neighbourhood of Woore there are 

 several, to wit, the hazel woods of Mill Hay and Can- 



