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292 to receive the drainage of the hill aforesaid. When to this natural humidity is added the misfortune of a clayey, clinging soil, it is not surprising that on the "Upper Ground" averages rule small and bowlers prosper. Luckily for Harrow men, the doctrine of averages does not apply to the ability of cricketers, and, as Harrow's opponents have often discovered, the boy who can score 20 on "Upper Ground" is eminently likely to score 50 on a more congenial locality. But if Harrow is unfortunate in the nature of her soil, she is blest in the nature of her sons; for there is no school which can command, a larger or more patriotic army of "old boys," ready and anxious to come down and help in the task of training those who are likely to do good service in the classic encounter at Lord's. Of late years, thanks to assiduous care and attention, the condition of the turf has improved, and whereas Harrow men were at one time noted for their careful, almost painfully cramped, style of batting, they now play cricket as free and fine as any of their compeers. In face of these facts, it is curious and interesting to note that in the days of inferior grounds and wickets Harrow well held her own against her Eton rivals on a ground like Lord's, which especially demands a free and commanding style of play, while of late Eton has had no advantage. Harrow probably owes more to her "old boys" than any other school: in fact, to speak of Harrow cricket ten or twenty years ago was practically to speak of Lord Bessborough and the late R. (better known as "Bob") Grimston, both of whom were unremitting in the time and pains they devoted to training Harrovians. Their places are now well filled by L. D. Walker, A. J. Webbe, and other old Harrovians. Of Ponsonby and Grimston it may fairly be said that the great object of their existence was to see Harrow beat Eton at Lord's, and it was to this end that their training was directed. Their difficulty was the dissimilarity between Lord's and "Upper Ground." To train boys on one class of ground so as to make them proficient on another was no easy task, and the difficulty was met by adopting a style of play which, though not graceful to look at, was equally effective on either venue. It is only fair to add, that though there was a certain amount of similarity to be seen in all Harrow batsmen, yet individual talent was always allowed to shape its own course, provided it was consistent with the primary and fundamental rules of the game. The inculcation of a particular and not very attractive style was only insisted on when the "coachee" showed no special individuality; but all Harrow boys used to be famous for