14 GROWING GOLD. 



prospect of a sufficient quantity to supply that 

 demand for a lengthened period is very im- 

 probable, although not impossible. No doubt 

 it will be stated, that the New Forest, Dean 

 Forest, &c. are grpwing large quantities of the 

 best quality, but what is this to the consump- 

 tion by the whole kingdom ? It may be asked 

 whether the most competent persons have 

 examined these plantations and timber, or if 

 the most natural means have been adopted to 

 rear the trees to the greatest perfection. The 

 reports from those places are far from favorable 

 to the supposition that anything like the quan- 

 tity per acre is growing that is expected ; this 

 does not arise from any unsuitable state of the 

 soil and climate, but from mismanagement 

 and improper arrangements altogether. I do 

 not hesitate to declare, that the most ample 

 supplies ought to be expected from these 

 national plantations. 



But, supposing on the other hand, that 

 there is a sufficient supply now standing and 

 growing for at least a century to come, it is 



