FORESTRY 167 



known as Ocknell Clump. Chosen, no doubt, as 

 an experimental situation, with the worst exposure 

 possible from all sides, and on the poorest heath 

 lands, it has answered the question whether the 

 New Forest was suited to the growth of Scotch 

 fir timber very decisively. In such a situation, 

 and on such a soil, no trees could possibly grow 

 to fine dimensions ; but they withstood all hard- 

 ships, and the answer to the experiment now is 

 a landmark conspicuous from all sides of the 

 north Forest one that has guided home safely 

 to the lower ground and to civilisation many a 

 wet, weary hunter or tourist, who has strayed 

 into the New Forest from some far country. 



No doubt the conspicuous clumps of better fir 

 trees that stand at Boldrewood formed a part of 

 the same experiment, and so also in all proba- 

 bility was the splendid group at Hill Top within 

 the Beaulieu manor, locally known as "The Fir 

 Garden" a most conspicuous landmark for many 

 miles round, and even from the hills of the Isle 

 of Wight. Here the trees have grown to splendid 

 dimensions, and there can be no doubt as to the 

 success of the experiment in that case. Yet it is 

 on poor heath land. It is very remarkable to watch 

 the spread of the Scotch fir over all the south- 

 west of England, where it may almost be said to 

 be the dominant tree now, and to reflect that 



