Part 2

It will readily be seen that I refer to the new Poor Law and to the Corn Laws; the former of which throws the poor man almost exclusively on his own resources. To provide him therefore with healthful employment, at such a time, and under such circumstances, will tend more than any thing else can do, to lessen the difficulty and danger of the transition from the old to the new law, and to mitigate the perhaps necessary severity of the provisions of the latter.

Before I proceed any further I would state, that I shall not attempt any thing like a systematic course, nor shall I confine myself to a scientific arrangement of my subjects: nor again, shall I trouble myself about the technical names of the several Trees which I may have to mention: nor, lastly, is it my intention to aim at elegance of composition. I do not write to establish a literary reputation, well knowing that to such an object I am unequal, and that if it were otherwise, there is a want of adaptation in my subject; but I wish to be understood as addressing myself to those who, not being themselves practically acquainted with the subjects here treated of, are not unwilling to listen to the opinions which I have formed, and profit by the experience which I have derived from close and extensive observation, while myself actually employed in the details of management, connected alike with the Timber and Coppice of ancient Woods, with the planting and subsequent treatment of Plantations and with Hedge-Row Timber.

Of course I am aware that much has been said, and much has been written, by others who have preceded me, on these subjects, but notwithstanding that this be true, I am not at all of opinion that this branch of rural economy has received its fair share of attention, or that the subject has been viewed in that particular aspect in which it is here presented, highly important and interesting as that view must be acknowledged to be, when considered as it affects the growers of Timber, the labouring poor, and the community at large.

There will be many, doubtless, who will dissent from some of my opinions. They will have a good and sufficient cause to do so, if they adjudge them to be erroneous: they have just as much right to hold their opinions as I have to hold mine, but I wish it to be always remembered by those who may read the following pages, that every conclusion to which I have been brought, and every inference that I have drawn, has had its origin in actual experience.

To practical men, and more particularly still, to such practical men as are like myself—to use a homely phrase—more at home in a Wood or Plantation than any where else—I need not make more than a general reference to what they daily see, in proof of the “mismanagement” which I intend to show, but as to the Proprietors it surely must be otherwise. They cannot, one would suppose, be at all aware of the fact, that one part, and that a most interesting and valuable part, of their property, is so mismanaged as to call loudly for an immediate remedy! I affirm, however, without hesitation, that while Agriculture has made rapid strides in the march of improvement, and while that first of all improvements in Agriculture, Draining—(although as yet but very imperfectly understood, and, in a very serious number of cases, very ill done)—has been extensively attended to—while the adaptation of Manures (although science has yet much to do, and much to teach us, on this point) has been carried to such an extent, as is unparalleled in any age, and almost in any country but our own; and withal so successfully, as to turn barren and hitherto sterile Wastes, Forests, and Moors, into productive occupations—while such an extraordinary degree of ingenuity has been applied to the invention and practical working of different implements, as to render the operations of husbandry comparatively simple and easy—and while yet once more, the attention which has been paid to the breeding and rearing of the various kinds of Stock, has raised them to a pitch of excellence which our forefathers never contemplated, and which scarcely leaves any room for further effort—while all this proves, I say, that the large landed Proprietors of this country, stimulated and assisted by the skill of the man of science, and by the enterprize and persevering efforts of the Tenant Farmer, have paid almost adequate attention to one part of their estates, it is equally undeniable that the present condition of a large proportion of the Woods, Hedge-Rows, and Plantations, furnishes proof of the grossest neglect, and a perfectly unaccountable want of attention. To point out wherein this neglect consists, and to prove this want of attention, will be the object of the following “Remarks.”

It is really surprising that in an age like this, when there is an onward movement in almost everything else, such instances of “mismanagement” of Woods, &c. should every where meet the eye. If any one well acquainted with the subject, were to take horse and ride through every county of the kingdom, he would find in ninety cases out of a hundred, the Old Woods especially, to be in as bad a condition as if they were solely intended for fox or game covers, and incapable of being turned to any other use. They are permitted to continue precisely in the same uncultivated state in which their present possessors found them, Gentlemen too often totally overlooking the important fact, that while they might, by proper attention to the draining and improvement of their Woods, and the best mode of disposing of the produce, give employment to a very considerable number of their poor dependents; increase the present revenue, and lay the foundation of a greatly improved permanent income from them, they would, to a very small extent, if at all, injure the covers for sporting purposes.

As to Plantations, the treatment may be said to be somewhat better, but, as I have before said, in most cases it is bad enough, as I shall hereafter show.

Of the Hedge-Rows I affirm, that they are, very generally, either left entirely to themselves, or to the tender mercies of the occupiers of the soil, who, having no interest in their success, but rather the contrary, cannot, of course, be expected to exercise any care in their preservation.

Having thus briefly introduced the various subjects which it is my intention to notice more fully under separate and distinct heads, I shall commence my first chapter with “Ancient Woods.”

CHAP. I.

ANCIENT WOODS.

While professionally employed, and while passing from one part of the country to another, my surprise has often been great, when I have witnessed, from its effects, the indifference which many gentlemen manifest, as to the state and management of this description of property: there appears, in comparatively few instances, to be any thing worth the name of an effort to rescue them from that state of wild unproductiveness in which they have been for ages! One generation passes away after another, and like as was the father, so is the son—and as was the agent of the former, so is the agent of the latter! All they have done for ages gone by, they do now, and little or nothing more. They calculate, with tolerable accuracy, the return of the year, when, according to immemorial custom, they ought to “cut, and hack, and hew,” and they go into the wood for the purpose of setting out the piece which they intend to fell: this they divide, in many districts, into a certain number of lots, or ranges, of what they call “Gad Wood,” which vary considerably in size, but which, as far as they go, include all the Underwood. At the same time, the sapient woodman contrives to satisfy himself—and it is seldom that his superiors make any inquiry into the matter—as to the number of Oak Trees, &c. that it is proper to take down; and then, after due notice given, the whole is sold, Underwood and all, by Auction.

It is a common practice to describe a ring round a portion of the Standard Trees which are to remain—such as the Oak, Ash, &c.—and these, of course, are intended for future timber, the selection being often as bad as it well can be, but the whole system, from the beginning to the end, is most objectionable, and it is matter of astonishment that it should have continued so long. It is objectionable for many reasons, among which I mention the following: viz.: because the Proprietor throws out of his own hands that control which a gentleman ought to have over every person who enters his woods, whether as a purchaser or as a workman. This control is absolutely necessary in order to secure two things, for which Conditions of Sale, however well they may be drawn up, offer but a very feeble security—I mean the prevention of entry by teams, &c. at an improper season, and the clearing of the Woods at a given time. There are other reasons which apply more or less strongly, according to the condition of the wood, as to its stock, and the staple of its soil. Carting, or rather teaming, for carts are not often used, will inevitably do much injury in woods that are well stocked, if the utmost possible care is not taken, whatever the soil may be; but if it be a tenacious, retentive, cold, clay, damage would be done in two ways: viz.: in the poaching of the land, and in that which would be done to the stock by the wheels. The injury to which woods are liable from these two causes, and others, may be almost wholly prevented by the active supervision of an intelligent woodman. Such a person will take care to divide his cuttings as nearly as he can to suit the local demand, and to begin as early as possible, so that every opportunity may be seized, in suitable weather, for getting away the produce, and it must be his own personal duty to see that no avoidable injury is done to the stools by the carriages. These reasons appear to me to be quite sufficient to establish a decided preference for the mode which I recommend over the system to which I have referred; but there is another, which I cannot but think will be deemed of importance enough by itself to decide the question, and it is this: viz.: the impossibility of deciding, before the Underwood is cut, what Oak Trees ought, or ought not, to come down. It is quite possible, I admit, to jump to a conclusion on the subject: to deny this in the face of the evidence which every succeeding Winter affords, would be absurd; but I affirm that no woodman can do it correctly. He ought, at least, to have a clear coast, to enable him to give due consideration to the various points on which he should be fully satisfied, before he cuts down that, which his whole life would not suffice to set up again. How little consideration enters into these matters, it is easy for those who really understand them to judge. For my own part, I am compelled to say, that I never yet saw a single instance, where timber was selected in the way to which I refer, without gross blunders being committed. But more than this may be affirmed—and it is not an over-weening fondness for my own plans, but a perfect conviction of the utter want of adaptation in the present practice of many, which induces me to say it—there is not one solitary argument that can be advanced in favour of the practice which I have condemned. If this be so, then let all gentlemen abandon it; if not, let the arguments be brought forward.

I have said that the whole system is wrong, and I add, that no good will be done by a patchwork attempt to amend it. So long, for instance, as a proprietor retains the “Gad-Wood” plan, he will insure the continuance of the old system of “mismanagement.” He might as well think of bending, by his own personal strength, one of the sturdy stems of his well-grown oaks, as attempt to turn his woodman gently aside out of his usual track—especially if he be an old man—there must be a total revolution effected—he must be put into an entirely new course, if either the condition of the woods, or the revenue arising from them, is to be improved.

Unfortunately it seldom happens that customers are not found for all that may be offered, in almost any neighbourhood, and in any way. I say unfortunately, inasmuch as it keeps the managers of many woods exactly stationary, while everybody else is going on. If they had a little difficulty to contend with, it might, perhaps, induce a little reflection, and raise a doubt in their minds as to the propriety of the course they were pursuing; which would be a great point gained, as there has been very little thought applied to the management of this species of property, either by its owners, or by the persons they have employed.

There are, no doubt, many refreshing instances of good management to be met with—I could myself mention a few, were it not invidious to do so—but in a large majority of cases, from mistaken management, woods are in a high degree, and for many reasons, a discredit to those who belong to them. If the Woodman’s account were fairly examined—if a Dr. and Cr. balance sheet were exhibited, it would be found that the land was paying a very small rent indeed from the underwood, even where there might be very little oak, which most assuredly ought not to be the case; for I contend that there is no Ancient Woodland which is not considerably below the average quality of what I have seen, that is not quite capable of growing a full crop—either of underwood or of oak; and for this plain reason, viz.; because the period of pecuniary sacrifice, the infancy of the wood, is gone by: and that woodman’s management is essentially defective, who cannot show, upon every acre under his care, a good crop either of the one or the other. I would here remark, that a full crop of both cannot contemporaneously grow up together; and this consideration is of far more importance in the management of woods than is at first sight imagined, or, than by a slight acquaintance with the subject would be perceived.

If there is found in a wood a superabundance of oaks, and if they are seen to be thrifty, nothing could possibly be so ill judged as to thin them too freely, even though the crop of underwood were entirely sacrificed; for, the very objects most to be desired, can only be attained by bringing about that state of things which is here supposed, and which necessarily involves the sacrifice of the underwood, or, at the least, all idea of any considerable profit from it. Under these circumstances, the exertions of the skilful Woodman will be directed to the securing of great length of bole or stem; for these, and these alone, are the trees which have any legitimate right to a place in a wood: and, of course, the longer their boles are, the better.

Having attained this object, the woodman will then anxiously employ the best means in his power, for encouraging the growth of the underwood, so far as, at least, to keep it alive, and as healthy as possible; and if he have well considered the subject, he will have contrived to lay down a plan, a regularly systematic plan, that his successors can neither mistake, nor, without some good reason, depart from, by which, during the period that the crop of oaks is being taken, the stock of underwood shall gradually be acquiring strength and vigour, and getting well hold of the soil; as well as that, they shall be so equally diffused over it, as fully and beneficially to occupy the ground, when the oaks are all gone. All these calculations, and many more, which it is impossible to enumerate, will suggest themselves to the mind of a man well-skilled in the management of woods; but there are very few indeed, who either see the necessity of making, or will give themselves the trouble to make, any calculations at all. In the oversight of woods, &c. much more is included than is generally supposed. He who imagines, as too many do, that when woods have been cut, they may be safely left to themselves; and that when the period comes round again for felling, they will do all that could be expected from them, has a very imperfect knowledge of the subject, or, rather, no knowledge at all: and further; he who does not know that woods will ultimately pay well for the highest degree of care, attention, and culture, is not a fitting person to have the oversight of them. But such is the ignorance on the part of many, who call themselves woodmen, and the carelessness of their employers, that there is a total negation of forethought and calculation, instead of every step that is taken having reference to a remote period.

A nobleman, or gentleman, or his agent, may calculate what will be the effect upon a farm at the expiration of a lease of twenty-one years, if it be not cultivated as it ought to be, and, by introducing certain clauses into the lease, he may secure himself against the certain and serious loss which would accrue to him from bad management; and he who does not so calculate, has a very inadequate idea of the nature of the contract which he is about to make; but the man who takes upon himself the management of woods, and whose views and plans are not extended over several of those cycles of time which intervene between the seasons of cutting, does not rightly comprehend the peculiar duties which he has undertaken to perform, and ought, at once, to be relieved from them, and provided for in some other way; for if woods are worth having at all, they are worth looking after, and if they will pay for proper culture, which no one who understands the subject will deny, they ought to receive it, for various weighty reasons, which have been before adverted to.

The foregoing remarks will apply, of course, most directly, to woods where there is an apparent redundancy of oak. I will now suppose the case of a wood where there is a deficiency, or little or no oak. Here there ought, unquestionably, to be a full crop of underwood. This underwood ought to be adapted, as to kind, first, to the nature of the soil; and, secondly, to the local demand, if the local demand be good: and as to its age, of course it must be that which best suits the market, or when, comparatively, it will fetch the best price; so that in some districts, as in Kent, for instance, it will sell best, and therefore ought to be cut, at about twelve years of age: in others it would not sell so well at less than from fifteen to twenty years old. But it does not follow as a matter of course, that because a wood has always, previously, stood from twenty to twenty-five years, it should for ever continue to do so; on the contrary, I should say, that there are very few woods indeed, if any, which ought to stand more than twenty years, and a great proportion of them, nothing like so long. The great reason why the produce of woods does not earlier come to maturity, is the gross “mismanagement” to which they are subjected: but when the time shall arrive that they shall be deemed worthy of as much “care, attention, and culture,” as any other part of an estate, then will they be found, probably, to yield quite as good a return for it; and the present no system management will be exploded.

In all cases where the cycle has run beyond twenty years, it will, at least, be well for the proprietor, or his manager, to sit down and calculate whether the stuff would not pay better if felled some years earlier. The inquiry can do no harm; and much good may possibly arise out of it. In the case last supposed, viz.: a wood with little or no oak, and well stocked with underwood of a suitable kind, there cannot be a doubt upon the subject; for if the stock—by which term I mean the shoots which have sprung up from the stools—has been properly treated, it will have arrived, in twenty years, at a size quite large enough for agricultural uses, and it can very seldom be allowed to stand longer without serious injury to the stools. A very little consideration will convince any one, who does not resist conviction, that such ought to be the state of a wood so circumstanced as to oak; but nevertheless the actual condition of most woods is widely different from this: instead of there being a full crop of underwood, where there is a deficiency of timber, or a full crop of timber, where there is little or no underwood, it too frequently happens that there is neither the one nor the other, even on land which is, as was remarked before, capable of yielding a handsome revenue! And here let it not be supposed that I am speaking of extreme cases only, or that there are but few woods in this state: the cases are numerous: I have seen, and could point out many, but this I shall not do: I rather choose to leave these observations with “all whom they may concern,” to work conviction where they are seen to be just, quite indifferent as to the effect which they may produce on the minds of any who may oppose them.

And now let me ask—if this be the state of many woods—if neither a crop of timber nor of underwood is found—to what is it owing? the reply is not difficult: it is mainly attributable to proprietors themselves, and to their agents: to woodmen in a subordinate degree. In proof of my first position, I would respectfully remark, that if a gentleman chooses to sacrifice every thing to the idea of having good covers; and, supposing that any thing which interferes with the primeval state of his woods, is incompatible with this object, refuses to do any thing at them, the woodman may not bear the blame. Again: if a proprietor happen, unfortunately, to have such an aversion to felling timber—and there are many such—that he will sooner let it rot down, or allow one tree to destroy another; or again; suffer the timber trees to stand so thickly that they not only totally destroy each other, but the underwood below also, the woodman ought not to be censured; except indeed, he have advised such a course, which I can hardly think any man accustomed to woods could do, in the present day. Once more; if gentlemen lack the moral courage—and I have met with some of this description—to treat with the contempt which it deserves the vulgar meddling, the idle tattle of those who are ever ready to say, when timber is felled, that the owner’s poverty, and not his will, consents to the deed, we are furnished with abundance of reasons for the serious waste of property that is going on, but the woodman is not in fault, neither ought he to be blamed. Lastly: if proprietors commit the management of their woods to persons who are wholly incompetent—as is too often the case—to discharge the duties confided to them, I cannot see that the men are to be condemned, but rather their employers. Wherever such “mismanagement” prevails as I have attempted to describe, and have seen so much cause to lament, it may generally, I think, be traced, either to ignorance on the part of woodmen, or inattention on the part of their employers: but it will be quite clear to all, who will allow themselves time to think on the subject, that the grossest mismanagement is to be met with, not on first, nor even on second, but on third, and fourth-rate estates, where regular woodmen are not kept, and below that grade downwards, to property which is in the hands of Trustees, or mainly under the control of Solicitors, or Corporate bodies; or, which is probably worse than all, under the supreme direction of men who having, during the whole of their business life, had too many Stewardships, &c. for any human being to look after and manage well, cannot of course be deemed capable of judging rightly on a subject which requires the closest possible attention, the nicest discrimination, and an extended and varied experience.

Much mischief has also arisen from the employment by gentlemen, and by their agents, of persons, who, while they may, usefully and creditably, fulfil their duties as village carpenters and the like, cannot possibly possess those enlarged, comprehensive views, which are necessary to the proper management of timber generally, and Ancient Woods especially. I must here protest against the conclusion being drawn, that I am doing injustice to any class of men in remarking, as I have done, on their manner of discharging the trust committed to them. As to the professional gentlemen, either their engagements, their position, or their habits, interpose an insurmountable difficulty, and relieve them from the charge of wilful neglect: and as to the others it is no injustice to them to affirm, as I do most positively, that there are principles and considerations involved in this subject, which they can, in no wise, grasp or comprehend: and so perfectly clear is this to me, so fully am I borne out by a long course of “observation and experience,” that I have never yet seen one solitary instance, where the timber taken down in thinning, either in woods or plantations, when in such hands, has been properly done; and in very few cases indeed, either here, or higher up the scale, without the most serious blunders. One case has fallen under my observation this Winter, (1842,) where oak timber trees were selected and marked for sale, which were exactly, in every respect, such as a good judge would wish to see in every wood; and not only, not too thick, but, from the same injudicious mode of selecting and marking at previous auctions, much too thin. They were also in a state of high vigorous health, and moreover, there was no underwood which could be benefited! I admit that this was a more flagrant outrage against the principles which ought to rule in selecting, than is usually committed, but the work is hardly ever done as it ought to be.

But whatever difference of opinion may arise among practical men, upon the points now under consideration, and on whomsoever the blame may rest, it is unquestionable that the actual state of a large proportion of our Ancient Woods is very bad indeed: they are either crowded with inferior oak timber, along with the most miserable rubbish as underwood; or, if they contain any thing valuable in either the one or the other, no principles, or rules of any kind, are applied in the management of them; and, consequently, they are, on some account or other, and of course more or less rapidly, passing through the stage of deterioration, and are annually losing to their owners, a heavy per centage on their value. In many cases, the oak, from ages of “mismanagement,” is stunted in growth, and of a form, and shape, totally unsuited to the place where it stands; and the underwood consists of that alone which is indigenous to the soil, and which, therefore, no neglect can destroy, nor any culture improve: in addition to all this, they are often, nay almost always, on clayey, retentive soils, ruined with water: they are periodically shut up, for from eighteen to twenty-five years, during which time, it is impossible to do any thing at them; and, when they are cleared of the underwood, instead of the opportunity being gratefully seized, for the purpose of effecting those operations which can only be carried on at such a time, they are shut up again, and left in their original state—except indeed they may have been despoiled of some of their oak—nothing being done at them, or, if any thing, probably so little, or so ill done, that no good result is produced. But what ought to be the course pursued at such a time? Why, as it is only during the year of “hagging,” and the following season, that any work of magnitude, any improvement worth mentioning, can be carried on; a proprietor should more carefully examine his woods when they have been cut, than he would any other description of property: he should himself, if he understand it—which, however, is very seldom the case—or if he do not, by a person who is conversant with such matters, make a most rigid, and particular survey, in order to satisfy himself as to what ought to be done; and this he must do immediately when the underwood is cut, or rather, as soon as any considerable portion is done, so that he may have before him all the time which he can possibly command, for carrying on, and completing, his improvements. He must not be deterred from commencing them by any consideration of the remoteness of the prospect of return upon his outlay; but, instead of visiting the sins of his fathers upon the generations following him, he must, if the case demand it, make a present sacrifice, for the benefit of his posterity: I say if the case demand it, but this will not very frequently happen, as there are very few instances of “mismanagement” where the fear of cutting timber has not been one of the principal causes of that mismanagement; and where this is so, there is at once found a source from whence may be obtained the means of amply paying for any outlay that may be required. I have thus far remarked only on what may, and what ought to be done, when Ancient Woods come to be felled in the regular way, and at the usual time and age; but there are vast numbers of cases where, first, the condition of the woods is so bad, that all considerations about the usual time, are merged in the necessity for immediately commencing the work of renovation; and, secondly, the instances are not few, where the same course is desirable, in order that a more profitable way of disposing of the produce may be introduced, to supersede the old jog-trot mode of getting rid of it.

With regard to the first, it will at once be perceived, by a practical eye, and a sound judgment, whether a wood is in such a state, as to the prospect of a crop, that it is the proprietor’s interest to make a sacrifice in the underwood and cut it, although it may sell for nothing but faggots, rather than finish, or run out, the term, at the end of which it would be cut in the usual course. I have seen hundreds of such cases: there are many in almost every neighbourhood where woods exist at all; and I confidently ask, what would be the use, or how would it be possible to show the propriety, of completing the term of the cycle, if, first, the wood contained nothing valuable as underwood; and if, secondly, it contained a considerable portion of timber that required immediate attention, on some account or other? I should, for instance, instantly determine to cut, where I found a wood crowded with a class of unhealthy oaks, or other timber: but it is not necessary to particularize, as I would not pretend to give such directions here as would enable a gentleman to decide, for that could only be done after inspection. So many points have to be considered, that a careful survey of a wood must be made. This done, fortunately there is no difficulty in coming to a correct conclusion upon such a question as this. A practical man, who understands what he is about, will be in no danger of committing an error in the decision to which he will be led, for these are not subjects on which a difference of opinion might naturally arise upon an examination taken. The various considerations for cutting, or forbearing to cut, would so certainly present themselves to the mind of a person really competent to judge, that I should say there would be no doubt whatever, of his deciding correctly, if he were not interfered with by the personal wish, or taste, of his employer. It is with this as with most other subjects:—wherever men understand what they are about, and are guided and governed by fixed principles, matters go on well; but the misfortune, with regard to woods, is, that ages of “mismanagement,” and other causes, interpose obstacles and difficulties which it will be no slight task to overcome. To give a brief summary of my views upon this important point, I would remark, that no wood ought to be allowed to run out its term which is not stocked as it ought to be, or which, if stocked tolerably well, is suffering injury from imperfect drainage. As I have just said, these points must be determined by an examination of the wood by some person whose judgment may be relied upon; but any gentleman may see at once, if he will, that if a wood is really in the state which I have supposed, viz., without either timber or underwood worth standing, &c. it would be perfectly absurd to let it stand; for at the end of the cycle it would be very little better than at the beginning, and so much more time would be irrecoverably lost.

As to the second point—the improvement of revenue to be derived from a different mode of disposing of the produce, I am of opinion that much might be done, in many places, without laying an increased tax on the local buyers, who are generally either farmers, or their tradesmen, the wheelwrights and carpenters of every neighbourhood, and who already pay quite enough for what they get; and especially the former, to whom I would much sooner recommend their landlords to allow an abatement, as an encouragement to them to keep their fences, gates, &c. in good order, than any thing in the shape of an advance. But still, much may be done to increase the returns from woodland property, by an improved system of management, and, first, I should advise a careful assortment of the stuff after it is felled: I would here, as in every thing else, classify, by which means, the different kinds, as well as the different sizes, and shapes, will come into the hands of such persons as they may exactly suit, instead of jumbling all sorts together, so that a buyer is obliged to purchase that which he does not want, in order to come at another portion of the same lot which he is desirous of having.

Secondly: There is room to doubt, I think, as hinted before, whether mistakes are not often made, in not adapting the produce of woods better as to its age, both to the local demand, and the interests of the proprietor.

Thirdly: So numerous are the facilities in the present day, to what they used to be, for the transmission of produce of every kind from one place to another, and so many demands have, by commercial enterprize, been opened out, which were altogether unknown a quarter of a century ago, that it may, even as to heavy produce, like that of woods, be always questioned, when the demand is slack, and when prices are low, whether the local market be indeed the best market, or whether the produce may not be much better disposed of in some other way. That this sometimes occurs, I can prove from my own experience in many cases, but I will mention only one, which was that of an Ancient Wood, a twentieth portion of which was felled every year, and in which, from “mismanagement,” a large quantity of the stuff was annually left unsold, but where, after the introduction of a better system, the whole was disposed of without difficulty.