GROWING GOLD. 



31 



There are some minds less controlled by 

 reasoning than by precedent ; to such the 

 local histories of woodland districts will afford 

 ample testimony to corroborate the opinion 

 that oak timber cannot be grown to advantage 

 unless closely sheltered ; some may attempt 

 to prove that although the largest trees have 

 grown completely surrounded by others, shelter 

 is not absolutely necessary : but those persons 

 who think so, ought to examine thin planta- 

 tions in exposed situations, or even single 

 trees anywhere. Let them search the early 

 historians, they will prove the fact that the 

 woods and forests were thickly covered with 

 trees ; indeed Leland's description of Sherwood 

 Forest may be offered as an indubitable proof. 



More inland is Sherwood which some render 

 the clear, others the famous forest, anciently 

 thickset with trees whose entangled branches 

 were so twisted together they hardly left 

 room for a single person to pass." It was not 

 only the closeness of the trees in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the large ones, but the shelter 

 continued frequently for many miles round 



