HIGHWOODS, COPSES, ETC. 275 
if abnormally heavy fellings had to be made in 
highwoods approaching maturity—though even 
this might be arranged for, if necessary. More- 
over, copsewoods are better suited for pheasants, 
covert-shooting, and sport generally, than any 
other system of management; and this attrac- 
tive side to them will always receive, as it well 
deserves, the favourable consideration of the 
majority of English landowners. And copses are 
certainly among the most beautiful woodlands 
that we have. In this respect their amenity 
exceeds that possessed by either highwoods or 
coppice. When to these advantages is added the 
further fact that this is one of the best ways 
of growing oak, ash, and larch, the most highly 
paid of all our woods, there is, apart from 
mere esthetic and conservative feelings about the 
matter, no lack of justification for continuation of 
this excellent system of management in Britain, 
even though it be considered from an unsympa~ 
thetic and almost purely commercial standpoint. 
Apart from special local .considerations, the 
growth of oak, ash, larch, pine, and fir is always 
remunerative in the vicinity of large towns; while 
in the hop-districts of England the cultivation 
