WORKING-PLAN FOR THE ALICE HOLT FOREST. gi 
to damage young plantations if not sufficiently sheltered. Frost 
shake is of common occurrence, owing to the open condition of 
the crop of oak. Snow-break has occurred, as for instance in 
1888, when the lower branches of many oaks were broken. 
(f) Strong Winds have done little damage up to date. 
5. Markets, Export Roaps, Lagour, Etc. 
The timber is no longer required for the navy, and it is sold 
to wood merchants, who retail it to the surrounding population. 
The woods are well provided with export roads. A metalled 
road passes through the centre from north to south, while 
another traverses them from east to west. There are metalled 
roads on the east, south, and west boundaries, while a branch of 
the London and South-Western Railway passes along the north- 
western fringe of the forest. Numerous rides traverse it in all 
directions. Although these are not always laid out in the most 
favourable way as regards export, they enable the forest produce 
to be brought to a metalled road within a short distance of the 
place of cutting. The labour question is a somewhat difficult 
one. A certain number of permanent labourers are employed, 
but it is not always easy to obtain additional hands when 
wanted. Still, by arranging the work so that the greater part 
is done during seasons of the year when the demand for work- 
men elsewhere is slack, a considerably greater amount of work 
can be done than it was necessary to accomplish in the past. 
PART II.—TREATMENT OF THE WOODS IN 
THE FUTURE. 
1. THE Opjects OF MANAGEMENT. 
The Commissioner of Woods’ instructions are contained in 
his Memorandum, dated 6th March 1903, a copy of which has 
already been given. It has been laid down— 
1. That all places where the oak crop is a failure should 
gradually be cleared, and planted up with trees more 
suitable to the soil and situation. 
2. That the rest of the woods, with the exception of some 
small plantations perhaps, should be retained as oak- 
woods and treated accordingly. 
