226 



NATURE 



[July 5, 1894 



With respect to the thinning out of superfluous trees, 

 the Commissioners touch upon a point of considerable 

 importance : — 



" A vast proportion of the area of the forest is covered 

 by pollard hornbeams. In parts they are an interesting 

 feature ; but the practice of pollarding having been dis- 

 continued, the trees are now so dense that neither light 

 nor air can penetrate. We consider that, with a view to 

 encouraging the growth of better trees and varying the 

 monotony of the forest, the best course will be, not 

 generally to thin the trees, but to make bold clearances 

 among them. The finer pollard oaks throughout the 

 forest should be carefully preserved." 



The importance of this recommendation lies in the 

 circumstance that such a large area of the forest is 

 covered by pollard hornbeams, often most unsightly 

 through overcrowding, while pollard oaks, and especially 

 such as could fairly be called '' fine," are comparatively 

 scarce. There are very few naturally-grown hornbeams 

 throughout the forest area, and it is to be noted with 

 satisfaction that the policy adopted by the Conservators, 

 and further enforced by this recommendation of the ex- 

 perts, will give an opportunity for developing the natural 

 growth of a tree which is an almost unique feature of the 

 forest. The writer is not acquainted with any woodland 

 in this country where the hornbeam forms such a pro- 

 minent feature. 



The Committee lay stress upon the importance of pre- 

 serving the '■ massive character of the forest,'' and this 

 also is a point on which it appears necessary to make 

 some observations. Where the trees admit of being 

 "massed," as the beeches in Monk's Wood, or the oaks 

 in Hawk Wood, this policy would naturally find favour. 

 But discretion has been, and no doubt will be, shown in 

 this direction. A large number of trees might advan- 

 tageously be removed from such an area as Hawk Wood 

 without destroying its massiveness ; and yet, when the 

 Conservators come to deal with this part of the forest, 

 there will no doubt be another outcry. With respect to 

 this area the Committee state: 



" Hawk Wood is in the main an oak wood, and the 

 trees are not such as would be improved by wholesale 

 thinning. It would be, in our opinion, wise to take out 

 no trees except such as are obviously dying, and a few 

 scrubby stunted trees which are injuring the others. 

 Where, here and there, a single specimen of more than 

 usual beauty can be encouraged into noble growth, it 

 should be protected from overcrowding." 



This is precisely what the Conservators proposed to do 

 with Hawk Wood before the present agitation, and a very 

 good suggestion has been made that the chairman of the 

 Committee of experts should be invited to go over this 

 wood and mark the trees which he would recommend to 

 be removed. The Conservators have already marked (he 

 trees which they proposed to remove. A comparison of 

 the results would be a most practical lesson in forestry, 

 and, so far as the writer is acquainted with Hawk Wood 

 (which is very thoroughly), it may be safely affirmed that 

 there would be no very serious division o( opinion 

 between the chairman and the verderers. 



In connection with the question of encouraging the 

 growth of underwood the Committee "do not think that 

 in all parts sacrifices should be made for the purpose of 

 «ncouraging it where the trees do not allosv of its 

 healthy growth, as under beeches.'' This observation no 

 doubt applies more especially to Monk Wood, and so far 

 may be claimed as a ratification of the work done there. 

 The thinning cannot in thii district be fairly considered 

 10 have led to any serious sacrifices of good trees, and a 

 ramble through that woodland will convince the lover of 

 the picturesque that the massiveness has not been inter- 

 fered with. In view of the circumstance that the public 

 attention was first drawn to the recent thinnings by the 

 operations in this district, it is to be regretted that the 



NO. l2Si, VOL. 50] 



experts have not expressed themselves more fully on this 

 point. They express no disapproval of what has been 

 done, but they consider that the thinnings will be 

 sufficient " for many years to come," an observation which 

 will no doubt be fully concurred in by the Conservators. 

 There was never any intention expressed of thinning 

 further in this woodland for the present. 



The Committee recommend also that the trees in 

 Hish Beech should not be interfered with, that the 

 hollies in Walthamstow Wood should be allowed to 

 develop by removing the dead or dying trees or the 

 pollards which are interfering with them, and that the 

 "healthy oaks, even where crowded, should be left 

 standing. The beauty of tall oak stems, often lichen- 

 covered, when growing in close woods, should be con- 

 sidered.'' In connection with this last remark it may be 

 interesting to add that for some reason or another lichens 

 refuse to flourish on the trees in Epping Forest — 

 certainly in the lower forest, and the hoary trunks which 

 are such delightful features of the Kentish and Surrey 

 woods are unknown in the southern portions of the 

 forest. In Thevdon High Wood "moderate and 

 periodic thinning '' is recommended. In Lord's Bushes 

 it is recommended that the young trees should be allowed 

 to take the lead, and only the " finer and more picturesque 

 pollards" preserved. .-Ml these recommendations are, it 

 will be seen, substantially in accord with the line of 

 action pursued by the Conservators. 



The following suggestion with respect to drainage will 

 give extreme satisfaction to naturalists : - 



" We consider that there should be as little artificial 

 drainage as possible, though in the case of rides or 

 drives it is sometimes necessary. The natural drainage 

 is in most places sufficient, and the streamlets should be 

 allowed to make their own courses." 



.Another recommendation, which we endorse most 

 heartily, is that " it may be necessary for a time to protect 

 certain spaces against the inroads of cattle, horses, and 

 deer." 



The experts are opposed to artificial planting in general, 

 and are in favour of letting nature do her own planting, 

 excepting in cases where tree growth is insuflicient, when 

 they recommend that the seed of indigenous trees should 

 be introduced. Four of the Commissioners are even op- 

 posed to having a nursery, but Dr. Schlich does not agree 

 with this. In view of the fact that a large area of forest 

 land was formerly under cultivation, and has only been 

 thrown open in recent years, we are disposed to agree 

 with Dr. Schlich. None of us w ill ever live to see these 

 tracts restored to anything like a natural condition unless 

 planting is resorted to. 



Taking the Report in its entirety, it may be said that the 

 question of the managementof Epping Forestisnow settled 

 beyond cavil, and settled in a manner calculated to give 

 strength to the hands of the Conservators and to reassure 

 the public. The ridiculous exaggeration of seekers after 

 cheap notoriety may in future be allowed to pass by un- 

 heeded. As Sir John Lubbock said in his l.ate address to 

 the .Selborne Society :— " A great debt of gratitude was due 

 to the conservators and verderersof the forest "; and again 

 in the T/wwof June ii : " We are greatly indebted to 

 the Corporation of London, to Mr. Buxton and his 

 colleagues, and . . . Epping Forest will be even 

 more beautiful fifty years hence than it is now." The 

 Report of the experts concludes with the very pregnant 

 par.agraph ;— 



" In conclusion, we may say that we are not preparea 

 to endorse the strictures which have been passed upon 

 the work carried out in ICpping Forest. We are of 

 opinion that much has been done judiciously and we 1. 

 In some instances we should not, perhaps, unanimously 

 approve of the whole of the action of the authorities. In 

 others, we may consider that more might have been 

 done. But of one thing we are certain, that whatever 



