246 Agricultural Capabilities of the New Forest. 
length, but from four to six miles also in breadth, amounting on 
the whole to one-third or nearly one-half of the Forest. 
We have yet another stream to notice, but it is of much less 
importance than the last. It first appears west and south of 
Holmsley station, takes a zigzag and easterly course some four 
miles in the Forest by Wootton enclosures, then turns towards 
the south and enters the sea to the west of Lymington. 
IX. Agricultural Features. 
The contour of the Forest exhibits gentle elevations and moderate 
sized plains; neither lofty hills nor deep valleys, and very few dead 
flats. The streams, which for the most part rise in the northern 
part, take a southerly course towards the sea ; but in their course 
there are no rapids nor falls, so that the declination of the land 
from the north to the south is gradual. The aspect is exceedingly 
good, being for the most part southerly and westerly ; and the 
agricultural question to solve is, how far will this favourable 
aspect and mild climate atone for the natural and enforced poverty 
of the soil. Opinions differ extremely as to the value of the 
Forest land. Hudibras laid down the axiom long ago, that 
" The greatest value of a thing 
Is just as much as it will bring." 
And probably it would be the wiser plan to leave this question 
to be decided with several others by the test of public com- 
petition. There are some who are sanguine enough to antici- 
pate that 20,000 acres would, thus submitted, realise 50/. per 
acre. But although a small portion may reach this sum, ^e 
are certainly not justified in thus estimating so large an amount 
as 20,000 acres. A very useful criterion, and perhaps the best 
within our reach, is afforded by the public sale of the land appro- 
priated to defray the cost of the Deer Removal Bill, when 356 
acres, 2 roods, 20 poles, realized 8<j94/. 10s., or somewhat over 
24/. per acre. It may be urged that land is more valuable now 
than it was some sixteen years ago, when this occurred, and that 
people were not then alive to its value ; but, in opposition to this, 
it may be urged that the land selected for sale was divided into 
lots and bordered land owned by private proprietors, by whom in 
most instances it was purchased. We therefore think we should 
be nearer the truth if the 20,000 acres were estimated at 25/. per 
acre, valuing perhaps the timber on it separately. On this esti- 
mation we have a sum of half a million ; and if a certain portion 
of the poor land could be attached to each lot, the property, at 
the sum we have put it at, would certainly be well sold. 
With regard to the other land for agricultural purposes, public 
auction would still be the best mode of ascertaining its value, 
