C 141 ] 



that period of stagnation commences, and a frjih set let up to 

 supply the deficiency. 



There are many instances in these woods, where although the 

 underwood cannot by the best management be made worth more; 

 than eight pounds per acre at sixteen years growth, yet at least 

 twelve small oaks worth twenty shillings a-piece, may be cut regu- 

 larly at every round of the wood, from every acre, and that with- 

 out injury to the underwood. 



No system will pay equal to this ; the underwood, instead of 

 suffering from the multiplicity of trees, will absolutely be better 

 than without any. The shelter afforded by these trees making 

 amends for the damage done by the dropping from them ; espe- 

 cially as ash underwood, on which the value of coppice wood 

 greatly depends in this country, (and which does not grow well 

 under the dropping of timber) does not in general thrive well in 

 these cold soils. 



The underwood that thrives best in them is oak, willow, alder, 

 and above all birch. These kinds of wood will, if proper attention 

 is paid to them, be fit to cut at sixteen years growth ; if cut 

 oftener the wood will scarcely be large enough for the purposes of 

 the country ; and if suffered to stand much longer, the timber is 

 apt to receive a check from the cold winds, when deprived of the 

 shelter of the underwood. The coalpits of Mendip furnish a never 

 failing market for the poles of this underwood, and the demand 

 for the domestic uses of the country is fully sufficient for the resi- 

 due ; and as not only this end of the county of Somerset, but also the 

 adjoining part of Wiltshire, depend on these woods for oak tim- 

 ber, the demand is, and always will be, equal to the supply. 



Sometimes charcoal is burnt for the use of the manufacturers. 

 The wood is then cleaved and heaped into what is called a cord of 

 wood, the dimensions of which are 



8 Feet 4 Inches long, 

 4 Do 4 Do high, 

 2 Do 2 Do broad. 



The price of cleaving and heaping from twenty-two pence t@ 

 two shillings and three-pence per cord. The expences of burning 

 one hundred cord of wood, the value of which for fuel is six shil- 

 lings per cord, may be thus estimated : 



^ Cabin 



