468 Of Woods. 



arable state, such land will not, in the first instance, produce 

 grain kindly for many years. In a favourable season, it may 

 yield a tolerable crop of oats, but it is totally unfit for barley, 

 and unless it be heavily manured, is too poor for beans. 

 Wheat is late of ripening, and requires more dung than can 

 well be afforded. If in grass, from the lateness of its growth, 

 the value of the land is much reduced, and it is ill suited to 

 the dairy, though that is the mode of application to which it is 

 best adapted ( 5 7 ). But as a general rule, it may be laid down, 

 that all land capable of bringing the oak to maturity, and 

 not too steep or too rugged to be cultivated, should be ap- 

 plied to the purposes of agriculture ( 5p8 ). After the most 

 accurate investigation, it appears, that where the soil is of 

 good quality, more profit is derived from cultivation, than 

 from retaining land in wood ( 5 9 ). 



In most cases, however, the profit depends upon situa- 

 tion. 



In the county of Wilts, although the general use of pit- 

 coal has considerably diminished the consumption of wood 

 and charcoal, for domestic purposes, the demand for un- 

 derwood is still so very great, that woodland will not only 

 yield a sufficient rent, but, if in good situations, and well ma- 

 naged, will produce at least half another rent, by the timber 

 which may be raised, without any material injury to the un- 

 derwood ( 5I ). 



In Somersetshire, the growth of coppice or natural wood, 

 if secured from the south-west breezes, is so rapid, that the 

 profit is more certain than from any other produce ; and 

 greater than any individual would believe, who has not had 

 experience of it. From rapidity of growth, it is more pro- 

 fitable to cut down the coppice every twelve years, than to 

 let it remain longer. An acre produces L.16 every twelve 

 years, after the expenses of cutting, carriage, &c. have been 

 deducted. This is nearly at the rate of 28s. per annum, 

 besides the accumulating value of the timber trees. This 

 great profit, however, is principally owing to these woods 

 being near coal-pits, where ash poles fetch a high price. 

 The 28s. received in this case, at the distance of twelve 

 years, is equal to 20s. per annum, liable to taxes, and some 

 other deductions. But it would be difficult to let such land 

 for cultivation, at a rent of even 10s. per annum ( 5l1 ). 



It were endless to go through the various other instances 

 of profit derivable from woodland. It may be sufficient to 

 add the following instances : 1. The woods belonging to Sir 

 Joseph Banks, at Revesby, in Lincolnshire, pay at the rate 



