HUNTING TOURS. 271 



influences of tlie draining engineer. Never- 

 theless, the pasture fields, the surfaces of 

 which have never been disturbed in the 

 memory of the present generation, still pre- 

 sent the ridge and furrow, which, when 

 hounds run fast, bring many horses who have 

 a long stride, to grief, unless they possess 

 the accomplishment, which very few have, 

 of accommodating their step to the form of 

 the ridge. Draining has, no doubt, dimi- 

 nished the capabilities of the land for holding 

 a scent, while the sheep and cattle stains 

 prevail to a very great extent. The good- 

 ness of the soil permits the cattle to remain 

 in the pasture fields throughout the winter; 

 thus they are not, as in many other counties, 

 confined in the farm yards — a practice, by 

 the way, which I firmly believe to be more 

 conducive to profit, where proper shelter is 

 afforded, than leaving them exposed to the 

 inclemency of the elements. Housing stock 

 durinof the winter is in other counties found 

 to be advantageous; why, therefore, should 

 Leicestershire be an exception ? 



The preliminary arrangements having been 

 completed for Mr. Tailby to hunt the country, 

 the formation of a suitable pack of hounds 



