FOX-HUNTING 



II 



Time was when Essex, though always a 

 sporting country, was rather looked upon as 

 a hunting ground to be avoided, on account 

 of its wealth of " plough " and circumscribed 

 area of grass land. But during the last ten 

 or fifteen years there has been a general 

 move amongst Essex farmers to lay more 

 and more of their land for grass, whilst, as 

 draining is synonymous with high-class culti- 

 vation, the ground rides lighter and better 

 than it did in the days of yore. Steam 

 ploughing, the Powers be praised ! is not 

 much in evidence, and in the Eoothings 

 the " plough " is almost as good-going as the 

 grass. The Essex Foxhounds, having their 

 kennels at Harlow, run over an extremely 



