HUNTING TOURS. 285 



its supremacy, and no country can be better 

 suited to the purpose. The land is generally 

 favourable to scent, and before so much of it 

 was subjected to the plough it was more 

 so than at present. The fences are mostly 

 negotiable, though oftentimes they are of a 

 character to call forth the best energies of 

 horses and riders, without which foxhunting 

 would be divested of its most exciting charms. 

 The coverts are sufficiently extensive for the 

 preservation of foxes, and numerous are those 

 capital gorse coverts for which the counties 

 of Leicester, Lincoln, and the adjacent parts 

 of Nottingham are so essentially famed. 

 Taking Grantham as a centre, and striking 

 a radius of twelve miles, all, or nearly all, 

 the places of meeting are encompassed. 

 Within easy distances of that fine old town 

 are Great Gonerby, Barrowby, Syston Park, 

 Belton Park, Gipple, Cold Harbour, Weaver's 

 Lodge, Ropsley, Somerby, Boothby Hall, 

 Ponton, Harlaxton Hall, Stoke Park, Hun- 

 gerton Hall, Denton, and Belvoir Castle, 

 from which place Bottesford is the nearest 

 station, and within four miles. Melton Mow- 

 bray commands Piper Hole, Goadby Park, 

 Waltham, Stonesby, Saltby, Croxton Park, 



