IV TEMPERATE FOREST REGIONS 81 



to secure this land to the people, it cannot surely be left 

 as it is. Some steps must be taken to make it beautiful 

 and picturesque in the future, and at least as well adapted 

 for the recreation and enjoyment of coming generations as 

 the old forest was for those which have passed away. The 

 obvious course, and that which will at once occur to every 

 one, is to plant this ground in some way or other. It was 

 once all forest. It is as a forest that the whole domain is 

 dedicated to the public ; and it is the forest scenery which 

 has always given to the entire district its peculiar charm. 

 Our country still has wide tracts of common and of open 

 wastes, as well as extensive enclosed woods, and parks, and 

 plantations ; but our genuine forests are few and far 

 between. Undoubtedly, therefore, as forest or woodland 

 of some kind this land should be restored ; and the question 

 we have to decide is — Of what kind ? 



Some may say, restore it as much as possible to its 

 ancient state ; plant it with oaks and beeches, with a 

 sprinkling of elm, birch, and ash. This may be the easiest 

 and the simplest, but it is certainly the least advantageous 

 mode of dealing with the land. While these trees were 

 growing — for a couple of generations at least— they would 

 be utterly uninteresting woods, and even in the far-distant 

 future would hardly surpass many other parts of the forest, 

 while they would increase the monotony which is its chief 

 defect. Another plan would be, to make a mixed planting 

 of choicer trees, shrubs, and evergreens, which would be 

 more beautiful while growing, and would in time form a 

 forest of a more diversified character. Or again, a regular 

 arboretum might be formed, a great variety of trees, and 

 especially choice pines and firs, being planted so as to form 

 specimens. Either of these plans would at once possess some 

 interest ; but they would be utterly deficient in novelty, or 

 in that special and peculiar interest we should aim at, when 

 we have to deal with such an extensive and varied area as 

 the recovered portions of Epping Forest. We have already 

 fine mixed plantations and woods, and many splendid arbor- 

 etums ; and at Kew we have in process of formation a 

 magnificent collection of specimen trees which it would 

 be out of place to attempt to imitate, while the expense 



VOL. II. Q 



