NATURAL WOODS. 237 



SECTION II. 



Reducing Natural Oak Woods into Timber Groves. 



A MATTER, I humbly presume, which might 

 be highly advantageous to the naval interests 

 of the kindom. 



It will obviously appear, that such woods 

 as are situated in a maritime district, or in 

 the vicinity of rivers which might become a 

 means of conveying the timber, at small ex- 

 pence, to a convenient depot or market, are 

 to be chosen for this purpose. I w r ould 

 earnestly recommend, to the proprietors of 

 such, setting about, and as speedily as may 

 be, reducing them into timber groves ; re- 

 gardless of the present gains arising from 

 the practice of cutting, as in the preceding 

 Section. 



I will suppose the copse at any age under 

 thirty years ; taking, as a medium, fifteen. 

 And at this age, considerable profits will arise 

 from the thinnings; perhaps as much as 



