ITS TREES. 105 



his Majestie's navy be felled under cover hereof." 

 But it was due, even to a greater degree, to the de- 

 structive custom of pollarding, or cutting back the 

 stem and branches every fifteen years, at ten feet 

 from the ground, for purposes of fuel. The few 

 woods of larger growth, such as Monk Wood and 

 High Beach, which we possess in the Forest area, are 

 exceptions to the rule; and it will be observed that 

 even these have been pollarded at some former 

 time, as will be seen from the branches all break- 

 ing from the stem at the same height from the 

 ground, although they were subsequently allowed 

 unlimited freedom. We probably owe these groves 

 to the foresight of the monks of Waltham, or 

 possibly to their sporting instincts. At least, it is 

 recorded that " they were permitted to assart their 

 lands in Woodford and many other places ; and 

 enclose them with a ditch and low hedge, that 

 they might take of their woods at their pleasure, 

 to hunt the fox, hare, and cat in the forest \ that 

 their dogs should not be expeditated, etc." The 

 mop-head growth substituted by the process of 

 lopping, for the natural shape, is not only destruc- 

 tive of all variety and grandeur in the timber, 

 but owing to the lodgment of moisture in the 

 crown, and the consequent rotting of the heart of 

 the timber, is fatal to the health and long life of 

 the tree, and weakens its resistance to gales. All 

 kinds of trees were subject to this periodical 

 mutilation except the crab -apple trees, which 

 abound in some sections, and which were specially 

 excepted on account of the deer, who greedily 

 devour the bright-coloured, but to our taste bitter 

 fruit, when it falls in the autumn. While, how- 

 ever, we cannot but regret the effects of this 



