Ch. XI. MANAGEMENT. 237 



have given unto them of the harvest fruits, and be fed with barley, 

 pure wheat, beanes, the drosse of the 'wine presse, and whatsoever else 

 is good cheape.' The last paragraph betrays the foreign origin of 

 Gervase Markham's ' Maison Rustique.' But parks on the Continent 

 have been at all times so rare and uncommon that the author could 

 have had but a limited experience in proving the correctness of his 

 theories. 



Following the example of the authors of ' The Countrey Farme,' it will 

 be convenient, in the first place, to discuss the situation of a park, and 

 afterwards to add a few words on the management of deer. 



Variety of surface, and, if possible, a difference in the geological character 

 of the soil, and consequently of the herbage, is, although not essential, a 

 very desirable consideration in the choice of lands for the formation of a 

 deer park ; the ground should be broken up into wood and lawn, with a due 

 proportion of under-wood, banks covered with whitethorn ; rough grass, and 

 more especially fern (Pteris aquilind), or common brakes, are very orna- 

 mental, and most useful as a covert to the does and fawns. Our ancestors 

 were well aware of this : thus, in the licenses for Imparking, with which 

 our ancient records abound, so many acres of woodland, so many acres of 

 meadow, so much of under-wood and briars, are constantly noted, and the 

 picturesque and beautiful situation of most of our ancient parks, the union 

 of the fine and smooth turfed lawns, with the woody brakes and thickets 

 which distinguish so many of these venerable enclosures, evince the judg- 

 ment of the selection. One great object for the variety of surface, or 

 ground broken up into woody glades and thickets, so much recommended 

 for the situation of deer parks, is the more efficient shelter which is 

 thereby afforded to the deer in winter. Shelter, indeed, in winter is of such 

 importance that good judges^prefer a park, amply provided in this respect, 

 but where no winter provision of food is made for the deer, to one where 

 both hay and beans are given, but where they are left exposed, in conse- 

 quence of the want of natural shelter, to the full severity of an English 



