(JOS DECEMBER. 



WOODS. 



The woodmen are at work through this month, 

 In Worcestershire, &c. the sale of woods is very 

 easy. " Those belonging to the Earl of Coventry 

 are extensive, and are divided into fourteen equal 

 parts, one fourteenth of which is annually felled ; 

 this fourteenth is again subdivided into small parcels 

 or lots of 4O yards by 2O ; which subdivisions are 

 made by cutting right lines through the wood, just 

 wide enough to admit a person to pass, who ex- 

 amines and values each parcel according to its 

 growth and quality, numbering the lots in a book 

 prepared for the purpose, with the price affixed to 

 each : this being done, a day is appointed for the 

 sale, and persons, chiefly of the neighbouring vil- 

 lages, attend to purchase ; amongst whom, the poor 

 form no inconsiderable part, and for whose accom- 

 modation the wood is thus divided. 



" There is one circumstance attending the sale, 

 which, to a person unacquainted with the nature of 

 the business, may appear extraordinary ; that of dis- 

 posing of the wood, and receiving the money, with- 

 out the purchaser having any knowledge of the lot 

 he pays for ; this is done to prevent any dispute that 

 might arise from several persons fixing upon the 

 same lot. The purchaser describing to what uses 

 he intends converting his wood, is placed by the 

 person who disposes of the parcels, in that part 

 which appears most suitable to his purposes, and 

 the wood-ward having the name of each person pre- 

 fixed 



