t ^73 1 



The foil in this part of the country has not in 

 general fufficlcnt depth to produce fine oak timber; 

 where it does groW well, as in Savernake-foreft, it 

 feems peculiarly welfadapted for knee-timber ; but 

 from the want of water-carriage, and of a purchafer 

 at hand, many a valuable lot of good knee-timber 

 is jfed for the mod inferior purpofes of repairs, 

 gate-pods, &<t. 



As I have no knowledge in naval affairs, I can 

 form no judgment in what refpeft Spanifh-chefnut, . 

 elm, or larch, may be lubftituted to advantage for 

 oak. Spanifli chefnut, I have underftood to be 

 nearly as good as oak; but it is not a much fader 

 growing tree, except while young; t believe it re- 

 c^uires nearly as good a foil, and it does not do well 

 except in flieltered fituations, and is apt to (hoot 

 out in feveral dems from the bottom; which mud 

 retard and weaken the growth of the plant, 'till one 

 leader overpowers and dedroys the other dioots. 

 In Lord Ai]ed)ury*^ plantations the Spanifh chefnut 

 has run up with other trees, and makes a pretty 

 refpeflable appearance; but where it grows fingle 

 it is generally dunted. There are feveral of thcfe 

 trees in Brimflade-lawn, near Burbage, the larged 

 of which meafures 13 feet 2 inches round the dem, 

 it four feet from the ground, and yet the top makes 



Vol. VI. T buc 



