46 ANCIENT WOODS. 



being taken never to lose sight of the principle of 

 classification of the oaks, into certain families of 

 larger or smaller size, according to the term which 

 a skilful woodman will allot for their entire exist- 

 ence. This is of immense consequence, and will 

 embrace calculations, and a knowledge of the 

 habits of trees, which can only be acquired by 

 " close observation and long experience." Where 

 a sufficient number of oaks have been introduced, 

 the underwood will yield very little return per 

 acre, even at the end of the second cycle ; but if 

 the wood has been well managed, it will have 

 been kept alive and tolerably healthy ; and when 

 it is cut, at the end of forty years, a considerable 

 number of oaks of a useful size for farmers, wheel- 

 wrights, &c. will be taken down : this will admit 

 light and air, and in a slight degree, perhaps, 

 improve the position of the underwood during the 

 course of the third cycle. 



I need not pursue the subject farther here, hav- 

 ing, I trust, succeeded in opening to the reader a 

 general view of the plan which should be pursued. 

 But there are other woods where a larger portion, 

 both of oak and of underwood, will be found, and 



