NOTES AND QUERIES. 203 
the plan in operation at Novar. One thing, however, that 
accounts for the large revenue from such an exposed district 
is that there is a duty on all imported timber, which gives the 
forest a monopoly; and with the numerous mills already referred 
to in its immediate vicinity, it commands an excellent market 
for spruce for pulp-making.” 
This is an independent opinion, entirely corroborative of my 
own as originally expressed. And now I leave it to each reader 
to form his own opinion as to Mr Munro Ferguson’s assertions 
that my “criticisms seem unsubstantiated by facts, and over- 
strained.” After fully reconsidering them, I do not think this 
can truthfully be said of them. 
J. NISBET. 
Tue DECLINE IN THE VALUE OF CoppPicE-Woops. 
Coppice-woods, which formerly proved very remunerative to 
the growers, and afforded considerable employment to the rural 
population in the various counties in the south of England, 
have during the last decade, partly owing to foreign competition 
and partly owing to the scarcity of skilled labour, fallen in price 
at least 50 per cent.; in fact, hazel coppice, owing chiefly to 
the want of hurdle-makers, has become quite unsaleable. There 
is still a good demand for sheep-hurdles, which are as yet a 
necessity amongst farmers, but the latter will no doubt have to 
look out for a substitute for them in the future. The making of 
hoops in the wood from hazel and ash coppice-wood was another 
industry which paid well a few years ago; but, owing chiefly to 
foreign competition, there is now no demand whatever for these. 
Alder, birch, willow, etc., grown on marshy land, generally 
termed “gulley” wood, which is sold by the acre periodically 
(generally every nine or ten years), realised #10 per acre ten 
years ago, but now not more than £5 can be obtained for it. 
In fact, this last class of wood was quite a reliable source of 
revenue a quarter of a century ago; but, owing to changed 
conditions, it appears to have run its course, and it would seem 
that the next best thing to do would be to convert these crops 
into high-woods as quickly as possible,—an undertaking which 
would not be a costly one, more especially where good strong 
plants could be raised in the home-nursery. 
W. STORIE, 
Whitway House, Newbury, Berks. 
