16 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
accounted vert. Under the prevailing law it was not lawful 
for a man to cut so much as a stick in his own woods within 
the regard of the forest, except ‘“ by view and allowance of the 
foresters.” 
These restrictions would no doubt have the effect of strictly 
preserving the existing trees and shrubs, but it would do nothing . 
towards replenishing them, when, in the natural course of events, 
they decayed and perished. Moreover, in so barren and bleak a 
tract, the greater part of which is altogether unsuitable for the 
growth of timber, it is probable that the amount of wood was 
small, compared with the present day. The present Forest com- 
prises in all a tract of 92,395 acres. Of this, 27,658 acres are 
private property, enclosed and cultivated, and are not a part 
of the public estate. The statistics of the Forest are as follows :— 
Acres. 
Open heath and pasture, . : : . 40,478 
Open lands with timber, . : : ‘ 4,500 
Plantations enclosed, : . 3 4 11,138 
a open, . : : : : 6,532 
Freebold and copyhold of the Crown, 3 : 2,089 
Private property and encroachments, . : 27,658 
92,395 
Under the head of plantations, nothing is included of an earlier 
date than those which were planted under the Act 9 and 10 
William III., that being the first date at which the plantations were 
enclosed under a Commission, which caused them to be properly 
* butted and bounded,” and made returns thereof to the Treasury. 
As we shall presently see, there were innumerable plantations 
made previous to that date, but what is left of them has either 
been absorbed into more moJern plantations, or else is included 
under the head of ‘open lands with timber.” 
The plantations subsequent to the year 1700 are divided 
thus— 
Acres. 
More than 100 years old, : : . 1377 
From 75 to 100 soz, : : : 2230 
a5 0 0)to 70 55 : : 4080 
5, 20 to 50 5 : ; 4278 
Under 25 AP ; , : 5705 
Of the Crown freeholds, about one-half are cultivated land, and 
the other half—say 1000 acres—is under oak plantation of about 
