BURNING HEATH. 17 



The plea for these burnings is, that, when the old coat of heath, 

 &c. is consumed, young will sprout up, and afford much tender 

 browse for cattle ; but, where there is large old furze, the fire, 

 following the roots, consumes the very ground ; so that, for 

 hundreds of acres, nothing is to be seen but smother and 

 desolation, the whole circuit round looking like the cinders of 

 a volcano ; and the soil being quite exhausted, no traces of 

 vegetation are to be found for years. These conflagrations, 

 as they take place usually with a north-east or east wind, 

 much annoy this village with their smoke, and often alarm the 

 country ; and once, in particular, I remember that a gentleman, 

 who lives beyond Andover, coming to my house, when he got 

 on the downs between that town and Winchester, at twenty- 

 five miles distance, was surprised much with smoke, and a hot 

 smell of fire, and concluded that Alresford was in flames ; but, 

 when he came to that town, he then had apprehensions for the 

 next village, and so on to the end of his journey. 



On two of the most conspicuous eminences of this forest, 

 stand two arbours, or bowers, made of the boughs of oaks ; 

 the one called Waldon Lodge, the other Brimstone Lodge : 

 these the keepers renew annually, on the feast of St Barnabas, 

 taking the old materials for a perquisite. The farm called 

 Blackmoor, in this parish, is obliged to find the posts and 

 brushwood for the former ; while the farms at Greatham, in 

 rotation, furnish for the latter; and are all enjoined to cut and 

 deliver the materials at the spot. This custom I mention, 

 because I look upon it to be of very remote antiquity. 



LETTER VIII. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



ON the verge of the forest, as it is now circumscribed, are 

 three considerable lakes, two in Oakhanger, of which I have 

 nothing particular to say; and one called Bin's, or Bean's 

 Pond, which is worthy the attention of a naturalist or a sports- 

 man : for, being crowded at the upper end with willows, and 

 with the car ex cespitosa* it affords such a safe and pleasant 

 shelter to wild ducks, teals, snipes, &c. that they breed there. 

 In the winter, this covert is also frequented by foxes, and 



* I mean that sort which, rising into tall hassocks, is called by the 

 foresters torrets ; a corruption, I suppose, of turrets. 



NOTE. In the beginning of the summer 1787, the royal forests of 

 Wolmer and Holt were measured by persons sent down by government. 



B 



