106 HEDGE-ROW TIMBER. 



down to indifference ) and pure neglect. This I say, 

 because it will not admit of question, that a most 

 extensive loss arises, both to themselves, and the 

 community in consequence ; and it is not often that 

 gentlemen wilfully close their eyes to the 

 importance of pecuniary considerations, except 

 there is some powerful and justifiable reason which 

 leads them to do so. 



Without speculating further as to the precise 

 cause, it is certain that the amount of property 

 which is thus wasted, absolutely wasted and in 

 almost every case without any advantage to any 

 party whatever is enormous, as it would be easy 

 to show by statistical details and calculations, ap- 

 plying to any estate where this horror of felling 

 timber may have existed for half a century. Were 

 this accurately done, there could not but be such 

 a showing, as would fully establish the truth of 

 what I have advanced. There would indeed be 

 no difficulty in fixing upon an estate, in any 

 locality, which would illustrate my position, but 

 T shall not here attempt it, for various reasons, 

 which will be obvious to all. It would be travel- 

 ling beyond the bounds of legitimate remark, were 



