470 Of Woods. 



not be obtained ; manufactures must cease ; mines must be 

 abandoned ; several branches of husbandry, and the culture 

 of hops in particular, could not be carried on : And when 

 it is said, " Let timber then be imported," it is not considered, 

 that the expense of conveying so bulky an article, more espe- 

 cially to inland districts, or places where trade is but little 

 known, would be intolerable. Indeed, those only who live 

 in a country where wood is difficult to be had, can form any 

 idea of the situation of the people, where that essential ar- 

 ticle is not to be met with ( 5I9 ). 



In the neighbourhood of great towns, and of the metro- 

 polis in particular, woods are not to be encouraged, being 

 nurseries for thieves ; and because the ground, in such situa- 

 tions, can evidently be more profitably employed. 



3. As to soils, peculiarly adapted for the culture of corn, 

 even there, by a judicious planting round the borders of 

 arable fields, or of corners, liable otherwise to lie waste, 

 much timber may be raised, that would be equally adapted 

 to house and ship building. The profit of plantations, on 

 the borders of fields, is very great in Flanders ( 52 ), and, 

 though the vicinity of wood is not favourable to the produc- 

 tion of corn, yet the shelter which it affords, improves the 

 climate and prevents evaporation, and the moisture which the 

 wood occasions, greatly promotes the growth of herbage. 



Such was the information collected regarding the value 

 of timber, when the last edition of this work was published, 

 in 1817, and it contains some important particulars, which 

 it was thought right to preserve in this impression. Since 

 that period however, great alterations have taken place in 

 the value of every species of agricultural production. The 

 prices of timber, poles, and firewood in particular, have of 

 late years been greatly reduced. Hence the profits from 

 woods and woodlands, even under the best management, are 

 now proportionally small, and in many cases indeed, where 

 subject to tithe and poor-rates, they are absolutely losing con- 

 cerns. This depression has arisen from various causes, but 

 more especially from the low prices of foreign timber ; 

 from the repeal of the coal tax, which renders timber less 

 necessary for the purposes of fuel ; and from iron being 

 frequently substituted for timber, in the construction of build- 

 ings, agricultural implements, &c. &c. 



The remaining points to be considered in this section are, 

 1. The different sorts of natural wood, and their manage- 

 ment; and, 2. The various kinds of plantations, their mode 

 of management, expense attending them, &c. 



