PLAXTATIOXS ON THE ESTATE OF WENTWORTH, YORKSHIRE. 161 



are from 12 to 4 years. The great difficulty to contend against is 

 the brackens and other rank herbage that grow upon this land, 

 which entail a great amount of labour and expense in keeping 

 the young plants clear. It has been found advantageous to cut 

 the brackens in their early growth, as the constant bleeding 

 weakens them very much. 



8. TiNSLEY Park Wood. 



This wood lies intermediate between the towns of Rotherham 

 and Sheffield, and receives the full effect of the smoke, sulphur, 

 and other fumes, no matter from which direction the wind may 

 blow. 



The district is flat, and about 150 feet above sea-level. The 

 soil is clay. The extent is 380 acres, age unknown, but to all 

 appearance the wood is natural. The crop is oak, with a few 

 birch that have grown up natur'ally. The greater portion of this 

 wood is, consequently, a matter of some consideration for the 

 owner, as to whether to keep it up as a wood or not 1 It is com- 

 pletely surrounded by public works, which entail great difficul- 

 ties in the matter of planting. If replanting is undertaken here, 

 I have recommended to plant sycamore, ash, birch, beech, and 

 wych elm, as the trees most likely to grow to anything approach- 

 ing timber size in such a locality. 



9. Edlixgton Wood. 



This wood extends to 510 acres, at an altitude of about 150 

 feet above sea-level, and the situation is well sheltered. The soil 

 is clayey loam, resting upon a limestone subsoil. This is one of 

 the most valuable woods upon the estate, and is no doubt a part 

 of the remains of the Nottinghamshire Forests, as it is situate 

 close to the borders of the counties of York and Nottingham. 

 Some yews in the centre of the wood are of immense size and 

 great age. They are still growing, and very healthy, and may 

 have at one time supplied Robin Hood and his men-y men with 

 bows and arrows. 



The crop is principally natural oak, having a few ash, beech, 

 and larch mixed through it which were planted about 66 years 

 ago. The trees are generally healthy, but in some instances 

 the older oaks show symptoms of decay, chiefly in the top 

 branches, which may be attributed to the repeated cutting over, 



VOL. XII., PART I. L 



