A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



which comprises nearly 300 acres ; it was laid out in 1 740, and includes some magnificent oak and 

 chestnut trees. 



According to the official Agricultural Returns, there were 12,027 ^icres of woodland in Bedford- 

 shire in 1891, excepting plantations ; 243 acres had been newly planted since 1881, givinga total 

 for the county of 12,270 acres. The increase between 1891 and 1895 was inconsiderable, the 

 total of woods and plantations being there given as 12,542. The return made on 5 June, 1905, shows 

 a fair increase during the decade, denoting that Bedfordshire has some share in the recent revived 

 attention given to arboriculture. The total of woodlands for the county now reaches 13,313 acres. 

 It is divided in the return into coppice 3,562, plantations 492, and other woods 9,259. By coppice is 

 meant woods that are cut over periodically and reproduce themselves naturally by stool shoots, 

 whilst plantation here signifies land planted or replanted within the last ten years. 



T48 



