362 HUNTING TOURS. 



ploughed land than is pleasant, but I do not 

 imagine the innovations of the plough have 

 increased so extensively as in many other 

 parts, Leicestershire to wit. Then, again, 

 hounds are not so constantly perplexed by 

 cattle foils as they are in the grazing districts. 

 The success of a day's sport is so subservient 

 to the condition of scent that every one 

 endeavours to unravel the mysteries of the 

 wonderful and important phenomenon. It is 

 universally admitted that the atmosphere is 

 the essential agent, by the effects which it 

 produces on the evaporative and absorbent 

 properties of the soil; and this appears to be 

 confirmed by experience, as it may be fre- 

 quently observed that there are some days 

 when there is a fair scent on grass, with 

 very little, if any, on the ploughed land, 

 where the evaporation is more active, and 

 arable lands, thoroughly pulverised by cul- 

 tivation, are more subservient to evaporation 

 than those which have not been recently 

 worked. From this cause the modern 

 practice of good husbandry, in recognising 

 autumnal cultivation, conduces to diminish 

 scent. When evaporation is nearly in a 

 normal condition, it must therefore be infer- 



