IMPROVED BRITISH FORESTRY 315 
timber. And then, too, many of these fine trees, 
spreading their huge limbs far around them, have 
often, from one reason or another, been allowed 
to remain standing long after they have attained 
their maturity. This is especially the case 
with many of the beautiful old oak trees in 
copses which have often been rendered almost 
useless by old age and over-maturity, but which 
as objects of picturesque beauty possess a value 
that can well outweigh any financial considera- 
tions with a wealthy landowner when such 
woods are in the immediate vicinity of his man- 
sion. Even when trees are grown for profit, 
however, the mistake has sometimes been made 
of allowing the crop to stand after it has attained 
its full maturity, and when its further retention 
has really meant not only loss of interest on the 
capital in timber, but also actual loss, to a greater 
or less extent, of capital in the capacity of the 
soil for the production of wood. While old 
trees and fully-matured crops of this sort are 
allowed to remain growing, instead of being 
cleared and utilised, they are both unprofitable 
in themselves, and they also prevent a younger 
and more vigorous crop of wood being grown 
