WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 407 



much with the kind and the age of the tree. It will also be observed 

 that the bark is much thinner where the trees stand thickly together. 

 There is always a large produce of bark from oak-trees which are. 

 attended to in thinning. Therefore, considering these different circum- 

 stances, it is difficult to lay down any rule as to what should be 

 allowed for the bark in measuring timber. I have found very often 

 that for a tree measuring about thirty inches in circumference at the 

 girthing place, half an inch should be allowed on the side of the 

 square ; for a tree measuring sixty inches in circumference, three-fourths 

 of an inch will be found sufficient ; for a tree eighty to eighty-five inches 

 in circumference, one inch deduction will be necessary ; and for a tree 

 from one hundred to one hundred and ten inches in circumference, one 

 and a quarter inch will require to be deducted. These, as I have 

 already stated, cannot be set down as a rule, as local circumstances and 

 the kind of tree will have to be considered. 



SECTION 11. The Management and Sale of Underwood. 



What I mean by the term underwood in this section is the copse- 

 growth of hazel, alder, ash, and other shoots growing from old stocks. 

 Over a great extent of the woodlands in England, and more especially in 

 the southern counties, there are masses of underwood grown which is con- 

 verted into fencing purposes, crate-wood, broom-handles, fagots, &c. &c. 



On good soils this makes a rapid growth, and can be cut over once 

 in every six or seven years. It should not be allowed to grow too high, 

 as it interferes with the growth of other trees. 



There is a considerable extent of hazel-copse upon the estate of Wass, 

 which we cut over once in every six or seven years, and then it will 

 average from six to eight feet high. 



This we have used, in some instances, for fencing purposes, making 

 hurdles, as described under the head of " Fences ; " and we have also 

 found it useful in protecting young specimen trees, by making a fence 

 round them in the form of basket-work 



We have sometimes cut it out into the different sizes, and tied each 

 kind up in bundles, when we have sold them by the hundred. The fol- 

 lowing list may be useful to some, showing what we have converted the 

 underwood into, and the present selling prices in this district : 



*. d. 



Pea-rods, per bundle of 20 sticks, 03 



Dahlia-stakes, per 100, . . . . . 26 

 Scarlet-runner stakes, 26 



