478 Of Woods. 



much for the interest of the owner, to cut down even the finest 

 oak, when it is worth 40s. than to keep it till it is fit for the 

 Navy ( 55 ). Fortunately, however, for the naval strength of 

 the country, there is nothing more ornamental for the seats 

 of landed proprietors, than groves of thriving trees ; and on 

 that account, much timber is preserved, that would other- 

 wise have been cut down. 



But trees, at a proper distance from a manor house, are 

 not only ornamental, but useful ; if too near, they obstruct 

 the free current of the air, and send forth great quantities of 

 moist exhalations, which render it constantly damp. Thick 

 woods, therefore, ought to be avoided, near a house, more 

 especially in a flat country. At a proper distance, however, 

 they are of service, from the shelter they afford against cold 

 winds, and from the shade they yield against the heat of the 

 solar rays. 



The value of a grove likewise, is frequently very great. 

 Mr Davies states, in the Report of Wilts, the result of an 

 accurate estimate of one acre of timber, in the grove at Long- 

 leat, (the seat of the Marquis of Bath), in April 1810. The 

 aggregate value at that time, was upwards of L.I 500, and 

 there were several single acres of equal value ( 5SI ). 



4. Forests. 



In several parts of Scotland, more especially in the coun- 

 ties of Perth ( 55 *) t Aberdeen, Elgin, and Inverness ( 553 ), 

 there are extensive tracts, which naturally produce the 

 Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris). This tree thrives to the height 

 of 1400 feet above the level of the sea, and it has been re- 

 marked^ that the timber which grows on the highest eleva- 

 tion, is of the best quality, and superior to any foreign tim- 

 ber that is imported. Owing to the distance of these fir 

 woods from good markets and water carriage, the profit 

 they yield is inconsiderable. By a contract for cutting a 

 pine and birch forest in Glenmoriston, which is of great ex- 

 tent, the sum to be paid to the proprietor, was only L.800 

 per annum, for seven years. The great forest of Glenmore, 

 belonging to the Duke of Gordon, sold only for L. 1 0,000 ( S54 ). 

 Nor have the forests of Rothiemurchus, nor of Braemar, 

 (the property of the Earl of Fife), though the latter contains 

 100,000 fir-trees in full maturity, of superior quality ( 555 ), 

 and many of them computed on an average, at from 150 to 

 200 cubical feet each, produced the sums that were expect- 

 ed. This is owing to their distance from the sea, and the 

 expense of bringing them to market. 



