Dec. 1895.] 



PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 



357 



Although the farmers in Cumberland have suffered from 

 depression less than those in many other counties, agriculture 

 in the county is stated to be by no means in a satisfactory con- 

 dition. The low prices ruling for cattle and sheep in certain 

 years since 1886 have entailed much loss of capital, and it is 

 pointed out that the Cumberland farmers are seldom capitalists, 

 and have usually little margin to draw upon. Nevertheless, 

 Mr. Fox holds that if the prices obtained for stock in the current 

 year continue,, there is a prospect for the Cumberland farmers 

 to pursue their calling with sufficient success. 



Woods and Forests. The Seventy -third Report of the Commis- 

 sioners of H.M. Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. 

 [H.C.— 337.] Price Is. 7U. 



In that portion of the report relating to Crown property in 

 Wales, Mr. E. Stafford Howard remarks that, representations 

 having been made to him in favour of carrying out planting- 

 operations on parts of the Crown wastes in Wales, an oppor- 

 tunity was taken during October 1894 of going over those in 

 the neighbourhood of Denbigh, and a meeting was arranged 

 with some of the local farmers, who were interested as having 

 sheep-walks or common rights upon them. 



Whilst it seemed quite possible to select places where trees 

 could grow and do well, there are many other considerations 

 which would have to be carefulty weighed before any definite 

 proposal of the kind could be made which might give reason- 

 able hope of success. The common rights .would have to be 

 extinguished where the plantations were made, and owing to 

 the fact that, though these wastes are unfenced, each owner of 

 common right has in practice his own particular sheep-walk, 

 there would be some difficulty in arranging how the rights of 

 the commoners should be adjusted. To deprive one of these hill 

 farms of its sheep-walk w^ould probably be held to seriously 

 damage the value of the farm as a whole. The accessibility of 

 the ground and the nearness of railway communication are also 

 serious factors in the problem, and the Commissioner is, there- 

 fore, taking opportunities of visiting the wastes in other parts of 

 North Wales before attempting to make any definite proposals 

 in connection with any one of them. 



A small plantation, mainly for purposes of shelter, has been 

 made on a small Crown farm in Merioneth, adjoining the waste 

 of Maentwrog Mountain. The very severe weather experienced 

 last winter greatly interfered with the work and added to the 

 expense, and the exceptionally dry spring proved very trying 

 to the young trees, most of which, however, were reported to be 

 doing well in June 1895. 



