FORESTRY 



may be allowed to grow in girth. In part of Acorn Patch (812 acres), in Yew Tree Brake (183 acres), 

 and in parts of Park Hill (141 acres), the underplanting of beech is recommended, but to be successful 

 strong three-year-old plants must be put out. In the 56-62 years-old plantations there is some under- 

 wood coming naturally, but it is desirable to introduce beech generally by planting or sowing. In 

 the 31-46 years-old plantations the sowing of beech-mast will, as a rule, succeed ; and an underwood 

 once established, the overwood may be gradually thinned, to as to give to the oaks and larches that 

 light needed to develop good crowns, but which must not be given by uncovering the soil. In the 

 re-enclosed areas (which may aggregate 6,335 acres before the limit is reached, and of which 660 acres 

 have already been fenced in) it has been decided to cut out the worst of the oaks, reserving or storing 

 the more promising as standard trees. Under this shelter some self-sown growth of oak and ash may 

 be expected to appear, which will survive if not allowed to be smothered by fern. Larch, and oak, 

 and chestnut, as well as sycamore and willow, have been freely planted. Larch is so much exposed 

 to attacks by insects and fungi that it is risky to plant it over any considerable area to the exclusion of 

 other trees ; and further, the planting of all light-demanding trees should be limited to groups in the 

 open places made by fellings and so located as to be free from the influence of the crowns of the stored 

 oaks. Under the oaks, and generally where they are not natural seedlings or planted groups as above, 

 beech should be thickly sown or planted. This work of fencing 6,335 acre** cutting out the bad oaks, 

 and planting as now projected, will be heavy and costly, and it is thought that 20 years may well be 

 given to its accomplishment. A difficulty in proceeding with it lies in the fact that beech-mast is only 

 procurable at intervals probably of three or four years ; and the beech is the most important element 

 in these plantations, where the oaks exist already in sufficient numbers, the chief object being to restore 

 the natural condition of the wood as a mixed crop of oak and beech, and thus secure a better develop- 

 ment of the oaks. 



Arrangements are made to re-enclose areas averaging 300 acres a year, and to clear of inferior 

 trees and replant as above, the following being the order kept in view : Kensley Ridge and part of 

 Beechenhurst and Serridge (662 acres enclosed in 1896) ; Staple Edge, N. Blakeney Hill and Lining 

 Wood (1,500 acres enclosed in 1898); Lea Bailey, Buckholt, Sallow Vallets, Perch and part of 

 Serridge (1,200 acres for enclosure in 1903) ; Nags Head, Barn Hill, Astonbridge (1,500 acres to 

 be enclosed in 1907) ; Cockshoots and South Blakeney Hill (900 acres to be enclosed in 1912) ; Edge 

 Hills, Bromley, Shutcastle, and part of Oaken Hill (900 acres to be enclosed in 1914).' 



The area to be annually planted with larch, oak, &c., or sown with beech, would be 300 acres on 

 an average, but as beech-mast can only be expected irregularly at intervals of several years, advantage 

 must be taken of every year of mast to sow up the entire area enclosed, and also to establish nurseries 

 to provide plants for years in advance. 



These nurseries for beech need only be of a temporary nature, and they will probably succeed 

 best if established within the enclosures, under the shelter of oak, in places near water and yet safe 

 from frost. The question of fencing must be considered for each new enclosure as it is taken up. 



The work second in importance during the next twenty-two years should be the introduction of 

 underwood of beech in the enclosures, exceptionally of hornbeam, and possibly of spruce, in places 

 where the soil is stiff or damage is likely to occur from frost. 



Beech may be undersown with prospect of success in the 884 acres of wood not exceeding 

 46 years of age, exclusive of the Lta Bailey enclosure. Sowings may also succeed over portions of the 

 older woods (such as part of Middle Ridge, Bourts, Crump Meadow, Deans Meend, Delves, East 

 Bach Meend, Hangerbury, Light Moor), but elsewhere planting will have to be undertaken in the 

 enclosures aged from 56 to 62 (except in Coverham, which is complete over the greater part, and in 

 part of the Acorn Patch). Similarly, Yew Tree Brake, parts of Park Hill, and the 14 acres of old 

 wood in Acorn Patch may be underplanted as plants become available. 



In this way it is estimated that some 1,700 acres may be undersown as soon as beech-mast is 

 obtainable, while 1,400 acres need underplanting within the next 20 years, or on an average of 70 acres 

 a year. In order to effect this underplanting nurseries of beech should be formed within the different 

 enclosures under the shelter of standard oaks as recommended for the newly enclosed areas. 



He further pointed out that 



Lining Wood (80 acres), containing mature oak, should be enclosed and its natural regeneration 

 undertaken. Certain areas also, such as, for example, Great Kensley with its 194 acres, where the oaks 

 are not thriving, should be cleared and replanted with conifers, while small blank areas mostly caused 

 by falls should be restocked. 



As to the financial side of the scheme Mr. Hill stated that 



with only 80 acres of mature wood and almost the entire area very much over-thinned, there is little 

 prospect of revenue for years to come. Receipts during the 19 years 1897-1916 will be restricted 

 to the value of the inferior trees cut on areas averaging 300 acres annually, and that of the mature 

 wood in the Lining Wood (80 acres). The clearance of the greater part of 300 acres where oak is 

 not thriving will also give some return ; while later on the thinnings of young woods in which beech 



1 The following enclosures suggested by Mr. H. C. Hill have already been made : New Beechenhurst, 

 including Kensley Ridge and part of Serridge, enclosed 1897 666 A. 3 n. 38 p.; part of Serridge, enclosed 

 10.00 133 A. 3 R. 9?.; Staple Edge and part of Blakeney Hill, enclosed 1900 1,583 A. I R. 27 p. ; Sallow 

 Vallets (part of), Buckholt, and part of The Perch, enclosed 1906 1, 060 A. (estimattd) ; ex information 

 Mr. Philip Baylis. 



279 



