Agricultural Capabilities of the New Forest. 205 
<lcalt with. He has in a communication to the author thus 
expressed his views : — 
" I tliink the Government 1ms made an error in planting the best land witli 
worthless Scotch fir (no matter what the object), for in many instances spaces 
of unrivalled beauty and elevation, covered with beautifully picturesque beech 
and oak timber, have been cut and cleared away, the land being converted 
into a dense and gloomy plantation of Scotch fir, and whether planted as nursery 
for future growth of oak, or the value of the fir timber, it is alike unprofitable 
for tlio present generation. 
" Irrespective of the 16,000 acres enclosed, there are probably about 5000 
partially covered with timber, such as beech and oak, and sufficient to orna- 
ment the land with a view to its being sold as residential sites ; there are also 
probably about 8000 acres growing only heath and furze, but capable of culti- 
vation. There are probably about 6000 acres of sandy land, bearing fern, &c., 
also capable of being made fair stock and corn land, and about 3000 acres, 
probably consisting of bog land, which may be made fertile cither for arable or 
jiasture by draining, marlinz, chalking, &c. The tracts of land consisting of 
clay subsoil, and now bearing more or less herbage, and capable, when drained, 
of bearing corn, or being converted into pasture profitably, I should estimate at 
10,000 acres. There are tracts of mixed clay and gravel soils extending in 
different directions, amounting to probably 7000 acres, which would pay to 
■cultivate, particularly as 24 marl pits are to be found in the different localities. 
The remaining portion of the land, consisting of 8000 or 10,000 acres, com- 
p)osed of white and yellow sands and gravel, is too poor and arid for cultivation ; 
but, in my opinion, there is not an acre of it that would not pay if i)lanted 
with larch, fir, and underwood })lants of sweet chesnuts, ash, &c., for ornament, 
after the soil had been properly broken by steam cultivation or otherwise to 
the depth of 18 inches, the climate of the Forest being especially favourable 
for such plantations. My observation and experience induce me to estimate 
that this land will pay a rental of 20s. to 25s. per acre, if planted as above 
stated. I therefore consider that the whole of the Forest is capable of being 
•converted into profitable arable or pasture land, excejit the last-named 8000 or 
10,000 acres. 
" I beg to suggest the following course as a good one for the Government to 
pursue. To etfect the main drainage and the completion of roads after a careful 
survey, together with an apportionment of land to parties having Forest rights, 
setting apart 3000 or 4000 acres as recreation ground, &c., to be appointed to 
the different towns and villages in the vicinity ; then to offer for sale by auction 
such portions as are adapted for residential estates, in separate lots, together 
with any timber thereon; also to oft'i-r, in convenient lots, including a portion 
of the Government i)lantations, all the remaining land, for farming or other 
purposes, having regard in so doing to the situation of contiguous estates. In 
concluding my observations as to the value of the Forest, I wish especially to 
note the fact, that in almost every locality there are gardens, attached to the 
cottages, which represent all the soils to be found in the Forest, and that by 
continuous spade-culture even the poorest are made ])roductive. 
"In giving you the result of the enclosure of wastes under my own 
management, I beg to state that my property, being situated in four different 
parishes, I had allotments on the commons in each of them. In Durley 
]iarish my allotment on Wintershill Common was a strong piece of land : 
this was let to a tenant of my other land, at a nominal rent for twelve years, 
be breaking up, chalking, and draining, I finding tiles and paying for fences. 
This is now good land and letting at 40s. per acre. A piece of sandy loam 
land in Botley parish cost in draining, chalking, fencing, and breaking- 
up, about 10?. per acre : this is now under spade culture, and lets at the rate 
■of 50s. per acre per annum. A piece of land in Burslcdon parish, of similar 
