LITTLE GADDESDEN. 323 



collected together, cut into different lengths and bound 

 up in bundles. The stems of the thicker trees, which 

 were of an arm's thickness, more and less, were set out 

 and bound separately together. The twigs and the 

 smaller sticks were also bound together in bundles. 

 Scarcely any twig was left, however small it was, which 

 did not find its place with the others in the bundle, an 

 unfailing sign that the folk here knew to set a right value 

 on the wood, and to be careful of such a precious treasure. 

 It is incredible, however, what use and profit a ' farmer ' 

 and Landtman, in these woodless districts had from 

 these hedges, which gave him not only sufficient fuel 

 for his own requirements, but put him also in the position 

 to sell a quantity of it to others who had not such them- 

 selves. 



The larger a tree was, the dearer it was sold. I noted 

 also that more prudent [T. I. p. 320] economists always 

 carried the smallest bundles of twigs home for their 

 own use, and were content with them ; but spared all 

 the thicker timber to be sold to others. I even saw one 

 who himself burned brackens the greatest part of the year, 

 and sold all the wood which he yearly got from the 

 hedges he cut down, which was a considerable quantity. 

 Wherever we wandered about we saw large fagots and 

 bundles of larger and smaller timbers, which they had 

 bound together from the cut-down hedges, and left for a 

 time near the hedges to dry, from whence they were either 

 carried home, or sold for ready money. They were also 

 sometimes left for poor folk, who in. return did day-work 

 for the farmer. 



When a hedge had thus been cut down and arranged, 

 it commonly made such strong shoots, that in two or 

 three years' time it could do service as a barrier, and be 

 in a position to keep out the cattle. The dead fence 

 was then taken away, and carried home for fuel. 



Y 2 



