FOREST OF BEAN. 247 



seriously to injure the Commoners' best pastures. In 

 the meantime the Forest is more and more appreciated 

 and frequented by the public, and there cannot be a 

 doubt that any attempt to interfere with its general 

 aspect, or to curtail the public enjoyment of it, will 

 meet with the same fate as the scheme for a rifle range. 



THE FOREST OF DEAN. 



The Forest of Dean, of about 19,000 acres in extent, 

 is another of the few remaining Royal Forests, which 

 have come under the consideration of Parliament in 

 recent years, and where the policy of maintenance 

 has prevailed over that of inclosure. 



This Forest lies in the Hundred of St. Briavel, 

 between the estuary of the Severn, and the river Wye, 

 about twelve miles from Gloucester. Its condition as 

 regards the Crown, the Commoners, and the public, is 

 very similar to that of the New Forest. The Crown is 

 the owner of the soil and of all the timber growing 

 upon it. It has also large powers of temporarily 

 inclosing parts of the Forest for encouragement of 

 the planting and growth of timber. Subject to such 

 powers, the Commoners, who are the owners and occu- 

 piers of land in the Hundred, extending over many 

 parishes beyond the Forest, have the right of turning 

 out their cattle to graze in it, and their pigs to feed on 

 the acorns. Of the Forest, about 4,000 acres consist of 

 heath and open land ; the residue is planted with oak 

 trees of ages, varying up to ninety years, of which a 



