HEDGE-ROW TIMBER. 121 



not at all. I would much sooner cut down a free, 

 if it had not sufficient length of bole, and trust 

 to the chance of raising a better from its stool, 

 than take off large branches, particularly if it 

 was not over thirty years of age. Indeed the 

 former method of repairing the mischief of long 

 neglect, appears to me as one peculiarly adapted 

 to the circumstances in which some estates are 

 placed, as to the timber ; and I should not hesitate 

 to adopt it upon an extensive scale. I have, in 

 fact, seen many estates where I should cut down 

 Oaks very freely, which have not length of bole, or 

 which, from some cause or other, are not healthy ; 

 even though they might not produce timber enough 

 to pay for the cost of cutting. There are estates 

 within less than two hours ride of my residence, 

 which are apparently well stocked with timber, 

 but it is of such quality that, were it under my 

 own management, I should instantly cut it down ; 

 and from a large proportion of the stools I should 

 train up a new race of trees. These would, if well 

 attended to, grow into a class and quality of tim- 

 ber, very little, if at all, inferior to maiden trees ; 



