Agriculture of Durham. 121 



cleared, in order that the land might he projicrly drained. The 

 net revenue derived from these woods was : — 



£. s. d. 

 In 1849 75 2 3 



1850 105 4 11 



1851 237 15 9 



1852 300 15 



1853 C87 7 



So far, then, from the state of Chopwell Woods being any good 

 argument against the recommendation I desire to make, it gives 

 us, I think, an argument of a contrary tendency ; for the facts it 

 fully bears out are: 1. That want of draining and neglect of 

 the trees has been the sole cause of ill success ; and 2. That 

 even with that great disadvantage the revenue is a progressively 

 increasing one. 



In order to point out the advantage of that system of planting 

 which I recommend, 1 may refer to another locality in the 

 county, where the plan is being tried. In Quarrington, Coxhoe, 

 Thrislington, and the neighbouring district, there is a large pro- 

 portion of lands worth to rent 2^. 6f/. an acre. Tliey are 

 moderately dry and would not require so much draining as land 

 in some other parts. An acre would be sufficiently drained for 

 plantations by open drains at something like the following 



cost: — 



£. s. J. 



380 yards, open drains, at ItZ. a yard 1 11 8 



35 yards, main drains, at 2(/. a yard 5 10 



1 17 6 



At Thrislington about 100 acres were planted with larch 

 several years ago, the ex])ense of planting, including trees, being 

 bOs. per acre. VVlien the trees came to 12 years growth Scotch 

 kyloes were pastured amongst them : they were found to do no 

 harm to the trees, and 1 am told it is remarkable how well they 

 fattened, the pasturage was so good. I cannot say, however, that 

 I would recoinuicnd cattle being put in so early as 12 years; at 

 15 or 20 years more trees will have been tliinned out, and during 

 the last 20 years of the term of 40, during which the larch will 

 stand, the pasturage will be easily available, and undoubtedly of 

 value. At Tlnislington the larch were planted after clover, so 

 that the ground was in better state than after any grain croj). 

 One ordinary ploutjhing was all tlie work bestowed on the land 

 previous to planting the trees. Larch has been strongly recom- 

 mended by inanv competent judges as that species of tree which 

 will thrive best and grow tlie quickest in the soil and climate of 

 our county. There is also a great and increasing demand for 

 larch timber in the collirrv districts. 



