332 Farming of Leicester sliire. 



and at Mr. Crawshaj's, at Othorpe, we saw some very fine 

 Berkshires. 



Woods. 



Hedgerow-timber excepted, Leicestershire is by no means a 

 woodland county, and the policy must be regarded as sound that 

 has made it so, as the soil generally is good, and well adapted 

 for more profitable purposes. 



About the seats of most of the large landed proprietors thriving 

 oak and other hard-wood plantations abound, and when Charn- 

 wood Forest was allotted several plantations of Scotch fir and 

 larch were made. 



Coppice or underwood is also grown in various districts, and 

 where tolerable care is exercised in its management it is found to 

 pay a net rental of 20^. per acre per annum, independent of the 

 progressively increasing value of the trees which remain for 

 timber. 



The coppice is cut at periods varying from twelve to twenty- 

 five years' growth, according to the purpose for which it is 

 wanted. 



As a rule, the Leicestershire management of woodland cannot 

 be held forth as exemplary, and the loss from careless manage- 

 ment is in some cases much aggravated by the injuries done 

 by rabbits. There are, howevei", some good examples of 

 good management, among which we may quote some very 

 fine and healthy plantations of Lord Berners. Rides are cut 

 through them in various directions, which are thoroughly drained, 

 and most of them gravelled. The underwood is skilfully 

 managed, being all cut upxrards and close to the ground ; by means 

 of the clean upward cut the young shoots become much more 

 numerous, strong, and straight, than when the more common and 

 careless mode of cutting downwards is practised. 



On the Duke of Rutland's Belvoir Estate in this county about 

 1700 acres are woodland. These extensive woods contain all 

 kinds of useful timber, but oak is the principal crop, and in the 

 vicinity of the castle attains to unusual height and beauty. 

 Many trees may there be seen with clear straight stems, ranging 

 from 40 to 60 feet, and thick in proportion ; this feature being 

 attained by careful judicious pruning of the side branches. On 

 the marlstone hills overlooking the Vale of Belvoir, and also on 

 the oolite, larch of the best quality is grown. 



A few years ago a seven-acre larch plantation grown on the 

 oolite was cut down and sold by auction, realizing 135/. per 

 acre. Its age was thirty years, and consequently it paid a rent 

 of 4/. 10^. per acre net, it being assumed that the thinnings 

 cleared off all the expenses. 



