Farming of Cumberland, 



281 



extent). Every landed gentleman's seat has its scores of acres of 

 natural woodland, or of recent plantation, or botli ; and some 

 estates have hundreds of acres covered with wood. 



The extensive tract of country from Bowness to Maryport is 

 comparatively bare of plantations, from an impression that timber 

 will not thrive within reach of the sea-blast. It is true the 

 south-western gales act injuriously on timber-trees and hedges 

 for a considerable distance in-land, — as far or further than the 

 spray* of the sea is usually carried by the winds ; but this ought 

 not to deter landowners from planting clumps of trees in corners 

 and waste places, for the sake of shelter ; and wherever an estate 

 having a western exposure is sheltered in this way, the occupier 

 finds a benefit in the posts and rails it produces, as well as the 

 protection it affords to his cattle and crops ; and even at the 

 reduced prices of bark and timber there are few woods which, 

 properly managed, do not pay as well as if the land was in grass 

 or tillage. The bobbin-mills scattered over the county find ready 

 consumption for the refuse of all kinds of wood which does not 

 injure the thread by its resinous or colouring matters. Farmers 

 find posts and rails cheaper for fences and their repairs than the 

 old system of "stake and rice,"]" as it is more readily put up and 

 lasts longer. 



Larch and other kinds of wood suitable for props and sleepers 

 are in daily use in the coal and iron-mines, and much larch timber 

 is now used for implements of husbandry, which were formerly 

 made of ash. 



Since 1790 scarcely a common has been inclosed, but the 

 allottees have found nooks and corners for planting, and have 

 thereby improved the appearance of the neighbourhood and of 

 their estates at the same time. In former times almost every 

 " statesman's" house had one or two yew-trees growing near it, 

 from which he could at any time supply himself with a bow, for 

 the purposes of aggression or defence. In the present times the 

 larch is his guardian tree, but its uses are all for purposes of 

 peace. 



There is a district, commencing about Kirkbampton on the 

 west, and extending eastwards by Nealhouse, to Broadfield and 

 the country formerly occupied by the Royal Forest of Englewood, 

 which seems peculiarly adapted to the growth of the Scotch fir ; 

 for wherever that tree has been planted, and has attained sufficient 

 growth to produce seed, there the young firs rise spontaneously, 

 and if suffered to grow, soon cover the ground. On the poor 



* In the January storm of 1839 salt spray was caiTied by the hurricane as far as 

 Kendal from the western coast. 



t Called ''cock-guard" in some parts; in others winding," "stower and 

 yedder," &c. &c. 



