2(50 Agr-icultural Capabilities of the Neio Forest. 
the c limate of the Foi'est, and the natural capabilities of a large 
portion of its soil ; and, I may add, affords a strong argument 
in favour of its more extended cultivation. It is in vain to point 
at the liberal appliances which are at the command of a wealthy 
man, for no one presumes that any portion of the Forest would 
pay for cultivation unless it was supplemented by liberal manuring 
and spirited treatment. There is one strong suggestive feature 
connected with Mr. Dickinson's experience, that is, at the 
smaller farm at Burley Lodge, consisting of 160 acres, only 
60 acres were cultivated when he took the farm, and the remaining 
100 acres he has broken up himself, and with most favourable 
results. In the absence of other examples, with the exception 
of isolated spots and cottagers' gardens, I may be excused for 
directing special notice to this the largest example of Forest 
land being brought into cultivation during the present century. 
Subjoined is a communication from Mr. Dickinson received 
a short time since, in which he says : — 
" The farm I hold here is 270 acres, and it is said tliat it has been cultivated 
many years, therefore ought to he productive. You have seen the produce 
of it on several occasions, and know as much about it as I can tell you. I 
have another larm, ICO acres (Burley Lodge), 4 miles off. About 100 acres 
of tills was forest-land, growing furze, fern, and every other kind of rubbish. 
These 100 acres I cleared, and have grown as good crops of everything as I 
desire. The carrots this year got the second prize at Birmingham ; they 
were certainly the finest I ever saw. I will answer your questions about the 
acres not planted. I do not think I can give j'ou a very reliable opinion upon 
it. My journeys over the Forest have principally been from New Park to 
Burley Lodge and back. So far as I have ohser\'ed, every iwrtion of this is 
capable of lieing cultivated, and of producing good crops of all kinds of grain, 
roots, and grass. There is some land between Burley Lodge and Ringwood 
I have passed over a lew times of indifferent quality — boggy ; that would be 
rather more costly to cultivate, and not so productive ; but I have an opinion 
that, if jTOperly handled, it might be made to irrigate all that adjoining; and 
there is the finest descri]ition of marl underlying a good deal of the Forest 
that has the most wonderful effect in stimulating the growth of grain and 
grasses. 
" The cattle do well upon the Forest from Maj- until the 1st of August ; but 
the value is entirely out of the question, because if your animals are of a kind 
to make flesh, they do not all find their way home. The number it is capable 
of keeping I cannot give you any intimation of. A few rides through the Forest 
would convince you of the quality of the land. Thistles grow not unusually 
6 feet high; fern nearly as high; oaks as straight as a ladder-] lole, any length 
you would like to have them. It makes no difference to me what is done 
with the Forest, but I think it a scandal that such a tract of land should be 
unproductive, and that men should be driven away, or be obliged to do what 
they ought not, to get a living during the winter."' 
I also subjoin with much pleasure the opinions of Mr. H. 
Bone, of Avon, a sound practical agriculturist, who, farming 
successfully on the borders of the Forest, has given the subject 
much thought and attention. He thus writes, in reply to a series 
