252 LETTERS TO MARCO xxxvn 



new subject to me. My friend does wonders 

 amongst the trees by judicious thinning, 

 pruning, etc. ; and I was quite surprised to 

 find what large profits could be made out of 

 such woods by careful and intelligent treat- 

 ment. A plantation of trees properly looked 

 after is not nearly so picturesque as one that 

 is neglected, but the difference in value and 

 usefulness is immense. What is called a 

 " fall " or cutting of timber for sale, in a well- 

 managed wood, can be taken nearly every 

 three or four years, and as the trimmings and 

 faggots pay for the labour, the profit on well- 

 grown timber is pretty large. If, however, the 

 woods are badly looked after, the trees grow 

 thick and drawn up, many inferior sorts 

 stunting and destroying the better ones ; and 

 when a fall is taken great destruction and 

 waste occurs owing to the crowded state of 

 the growth, and very few young trees are 

 found of sufficient strength to take the place 

 of the old ones. 



We saw a fine large beech tree brought 



