37u The Hunting Countries of England, 



old turf is every day tlie main foundation — hounds can 

 go over the vale faster than horses. For the lesser 

 animal is not only quicker over its fences, but gets 

 into its stride sooner, laying itself down to gallop at 

 once — and particularly is this to be noticed where tha 

 land has been given up altogether to dairy farming, 

 the staple industry of the vale. 



In the centre of the best of the East Dorset vale 

 stands Doncliffe, a well-wooded hill belonging to Mr. 

 Morrison of Fonthill. A strong good wood, it occupies 

 an isolated position not unlike that of Great Wood in 

 the Duke of Beaufort's country, and is productive of 

 much capital sport. The other coverts of the vale are 

 all small ; and when these have once been rattled,, 

 their foxes naturally congregfate at Doncliffe — to be 

 found again there and go off at score into the open, 

 without hanging a moment. 



In the lower, or Woolland, vale the fences are 

 blinder, the inclosures smaller, and the country 

 generally more cramped, than is the case north to 

 Shillingston. 



Between Woolland and Blandford, and to the high, 

 road between the latter place and Milborne (virtually 

 the boundary line between the East and the South 

 Dorset) is almost all rough hilly woodland, though set 

 down on the map under the deceptive title of the Dorset- 

 shire North Downs. The high land rises abruptly in 

 true down fashion j though there is but little open 

 ground — and that little is mostly ploughed — on the 

 summit. Houghton Wood (some eight hundred acres) 

 and Milton Park (about a thousand) are two of the 

 largest woods; and are both owned partly by Mr.. 



