184 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



from ours, inasmuch as it is always a summer 

 pastime. The extreme severity of the winters 

 necessitates this, as during the cold season 

 neither men nor horses can work. i 



The disadvantages of summer hunting are 

 of course numerous. The heat is excessive, 

 and the crops are in the ground. Most of 

 the American farmers and graziers own their 

 land, and the greater number of them will not 

 suffer hoofs to cross it. This is partly from 

 a spirit of surly independence — partly from an 

 ignorant determination to hold with stolid 

 obstinacy to that most erroneous behef, that 

 the galloping of horses is injurious to grass- 

 lands. But, anyhow, the objection exists ; and 

 as it is vain to attempt to overrule it, a com- 

 promise is effected between hunting under 

 difficulties and not hunting at all. 



The system pursued is this. A man — 

 usually a stout-limbed peasant — is sent out, 

 who drags an aniseeded bag across country, and 

 over the lands and fences of such as will 

 permit it, or who are themselves in the habit 

 of joining in the chase. Then, when the 

 field has assembled, the hounds are laid rn, 



