502 
Waste mil Lands : 
Then came Pandarus, by Whalebone, and Campus of the Veloci- 
pede blood ; Old Port, a son of Beeswing, came later on ; and the 
endeavour to carry out the improvement was followed up, until 
the farms were let and the ponies had to return to the Forest, 
where it was found that the cross-bred ones could not stand the 
winter there as the old blood could, and to that as far as possible 
they returned. When the Sparkham pony out of Bay Lilias was 
a crack, she and Milton, by Old Port, were a good deal thought 
of, as also were Hero, Nelson, Chanter, and a Pandarus pony. 
Let me now say a few words about their cousins and neigh- 
bours in the New Forest. Here it is said, but on what authority 
I know not, they had the advantage of a very early and good cross 
of blood, it being that of a no less renowned sire than Maske, 
who got Eclipse. There is also a tradition, which I believe 
rests on equally uncertain foundation, that pure Arab stallions 
were many years ago turned out here to improve the breed. 
Be that as it may, the Forest ponies have always been held 
in very high repute, and some wonderfully clever little animals 
have been brought away from its wilds, though fairness compels 
me to admit that generally they are not the equal of the Ex- 
moors, being narrower, weedier, and more cat-hammed. By 
the way, it is a curious coincidence, and one which should 
Aveigh with those who have so clamoured for the parcelling 
out and breaking up of the New Forest, that the deer, when 
red deer were here, were never so fine and heavy as those to 
be found on Exmoor, and the ponies were never so thick and 
strong. This is, no doubt, the effect of soil and climate, and 
may at once determine us that if Exmoor does not pay to bring 
into general cultivation, the New Forest would scarcely do so. 
Nevertheless, the little Forester is a pure-blood pony when in 
his best form, and shows all the characteristics of high breeding ; 
moreover, he can gallop, and go on, and stand any amount of 
work. I remember being taught to ride on one that nmst have 
been well on to twenty years old, at the time that I began my 
lessons, and a perfect wonder she was. Although not more than 
13 hands 2 inches high, she carried my father (by no me'ans a 
light man) as a summer hack for years, and was, in truth, the 
only one he cared to throw his leg over when the ground was 
hard ; and although, from bad management of lier feet before 
coming into his possession, she suffered at times from corns, 
I never remember her making a mistake. She could jump her 
own height, trot a great pace when she settled down to it — which 
it was not very easy to get her to do — and was very fast in the 
gallop. She never had anything but a plain snafllc in her 
mouth, and never felt whip or spur, while no journey or day 
was too long for her. She was of the long, low order, with 
