CHAPTER IV 



EPPING FOREST, AND THE TEMPERATE FOREST REGIONS 



^Introductory Note 



THIS article is reprinted in its original form for two 

 reasons. It describes the actual condition of Epping 

 Forest from personal observation, when it was first secured 

 for the public in 1877, and will thus enable residents or 

 visitors to know how much has been done in the way of 

 re-afforestation of the bare portions of it, and the im- 

 provement of the unsightly waste of gravel-pits near 

 Whip's Cross and the dreary Flats of Wanstead. It also 

 describes some of the most interesting phenomena of the 

 distribution of the forest trees of the temperate zone, a 

 matter of permanent interest to all lovers of nature, and 

 makes suggestions for the formation of illustrative forests 

 of three or four distinct types, which, though not adopted 

 at Epping Forest as here proposed, might still be under- 

 taken in the New Forest, where there are several thousand 

 acres of open pastures or boggy heaths of dreary aspect, 

 which could thus be rendered at once interesting and 

 beautiful. 



Epping Forest in the Past. 



Our greatest legal authorities will not admit that the 

 people of England have any right whatever to enjoy the 

 beautiful scenery of their native land, beyond such 

 glimpses as may be obtained of it from highways and 

 footpaths. Legally there is no such thing as a " common," 

 answering to the popular idea of a tract of land over 



