96 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



former times, this was usually the result of 

 chance rather than of set purpose and design. 

 Often, in fact, they were produced through what 

 might have been considered as rather a neglect 

 of thinning. But the advantages of close grow- 

 ing was sometimes illustrated in a very practical 

 manner, as, for example, in the following instance 

 mentioned by Gilbert White in his Natural 

 History of Selborne, in which he describes how 

 4 On the Blackmoor estate there is a small 

 wood called Losels, of a few acres, that was 

 lately furnished with a set of oaks of a peculiar 

 growth and great value ; they were tall and 

 taper like firs, but standing near together had 

 very small heads, only a little brush without 

 any large limbs. About twenty years ago the 

 bridge at the Toy, near Hampton Court, being 

 much decayed, some trees were wanted for the 

 repairs that were fifty feet long without bough, 

 and would measure twelve inches diameter at 

 the little end. Twenty such trees did a purveyor 

 find in this little wood, with this advantage, 

 that many of them answered the description at 

 sixty feet. These trees were sold for twenty 

 pounds apiece/ 



