222 Agricultural Capabilities of the New Forest. 
argument may be found in the fact that the enclosures, when 
thrown open, are of very little service to the commoners, inas- 
much as the deep open drains are allowed to continue unfilled, 
and, being partially grown over with brambles, are extremely 
dangerous for cattle. It would have been a far better arrange- 
ment if only one-half of the land had been so allotted and 
planted, but without any provision for throwing it open to the 
commoners afterwards. It is a matter of great complaint on the 
part of the commoners that the Crown Commissioners have, in 
selecting land for planting, laid their clutches on the fairest and 
most fertile parts : a power, certainly, which, thus exercised, 
savours more of might than of right, and which has latterly been 
protested against with some success, and thus some favourite and 
picturesque spots have been, fortunately, rescued from the lovers 
of straight lines and formal avenues. Some gentlemen, who are 
strong advocates for the retention of, or full compensation for, 
forest-rights, contend, with much force, that it is a matter of great 
regret that, when the Deer Removal Act was passed, the Forest 
was not dealt with as a whole, instead of so large a portion of 
the best land being absorbed by enclosures. Whilst acknow- 
ledging the force of this argument, it must not be forgotten that, 
if large portions of these enclosures were offered for sale at the 
present time, the price realised would undoubtedly show that, as 
regards the question of value, the planting has not been done in 
vain, and that the outlay has not been all lost. It is contended 
by some that the district in question ceased to be a forest when 
the deer were destroyed. Be that as it may, it must be confessed 
that the Crown secured ample consideration in the right of 
enclosing and planting 10,000 acres of land, in addition to the 
6000 allowed to be enclosed before ; and the more so, as the 
best land in the Forest was secured for this purpose, instead of 
taking in equal quantities the good and the bad. There was, 
however, some excuse for this practice in the earlier years of 
exercising the right, inasmuch as the plea was that the object 
of enclosing was to supply oak timber in future years for the use 
of the Navy, and it would be useless to reserve land unsuitable 
for this purpose. The plea was a good one at the time ; as it 
has been found that if cattle have access to young timber it is 
rendered perfectly useless for Navy, and of very little value for 
other purposes. A mighty change, however, has come over these 
affairs ; for it is now an accepted fact that oak timber will no 
longer be required, and that the wooden walls of Old England 
have succumljed to the superior defensive claims of her iron 
ramparts. Two grounils for the retention of the Forest — the fuel 
and the oak — are thus removed ; and we cannot be surprised 
if, with an increasing population and a circumscribed area, 
