ANCIENT WOODS. 45 



secondly, because there are very few that are 

 properly planted. 



As I have stated before, the infancy of a 

 wood, or plantation, is the only time when it can- 

 not be expected to pay. After it has arrived at a 

 certain age, say from fifteen to twenty years, it 

 ought to begin to make some return. In woods, 

 if they are properly planted, it will necessarily be 

 small during the first two cycles of twenty years 

 each. ' It must be observed, that I am here 

 speaking of the first forty years of an Ancient 

 Wood, supposing it to have been thoroughly pur* 

 ged of its rubbish, retaining all the valuable stock, 

 and to have been re-planted. The return must 

 be small, because the oaks will have been planted 

 thickly, in order that they may acquire great 

 length of bole : and this being the case, whatever 

 underwood may have been put in, it will be treated 

 with direct reference to the health and prosperity 

 of the entire class of timber trees. After the 

 expiration of the first cycle, that portion of the 

 stuff put in for underwood will be cut over, and 

 such pruning of the oak as may be required 

 (which will be very slight) will be done, care 



