252 
Farming of Oxfordshire. 
The forest of Wycliwood is computed to contain 3735 acres, 
of which 1841 acres are used as coppice, 1741 acres are open 
ridinsjs, plains, woods, and waste, 127 acres are occupied by 
the two principal lodges and three keepers' lodges, and the 
remaining part (about 26 acres) is detaclied land lying in adjoin- 
ing parishes. The underwood in the coppice is cut at stated 
periods (of 18 or 21 years), and then fetches about 5/. per acre. 
The coppice is closed for the first eight years, and is afterwards 
thrown open for the deer and commonable cattle until the next 
cutting. The soil of the forest is variable ; a considerable 
portion is the stonebrash of tlic neighbourhood, and some is a 
stiffer loam. The land is well adapted for cultivation. There 
are other woods around the forest, being purlieus thereof, such 
as the Baron's coppice, the woods of Hailey, Crowley, Minster 
Lovell, &c., amounting probably to 2000 acres. The coppice, 
as well as the open land, grows timber, chiefly oak, which is 
occasionally sold by auction, the best being first selected for the 
uses of the Navy, which is sent at great cost of carriage to the 
dockyards. There is some ash, elm, and other timber, but 
forming no great proportion of the whole. After deducting all 
expenses, tlie forest has usually produced for the country, as its 
clear annual return, the magnificent sum of 100/. per annum. 
An Act was passed in February 1853, disafforesting the forest 
of VVychwood, and is to be carried into execution by three 
commissioners. It provides that land be set apart in suitable 
situations for commonable cattle, and sheep belonging to those 
who formerly possessed rights of common in the forest. The 
deer are to be removed in the space of two years from the date 
of passing the Act. The forest is to be made a parish, a church 
is to be erected, and a perpetual curacy established. The award 
is to be made in the space of three years, and power is given to 
cut down timber and sell underwood and land to defray the 
expense of making roads, fencing, iS:c. The changes which must 
needs take place by the disafforesting will be a great boon to 
the neighbourhood, and one which has long been desirable. 
Many will doubtless regret the loss of so fine a tract of wild 
forest land to the country, which has been a source of much 
pleasure and delight to the dwellers in its vicinity. But these 
considerations are of small weight compared with the advantages 
to be derived from the inclosure and cultivation of the land, the 
clearance from the neighbourhood of poachers and thieves, and 
the improvement in the morals of the people. Before the matter 
can be completed, a la])se of some years must necessarily intervene ; 
and the commoners inust not anticipate great gain in exchange 
for their forestal rights after the land has been deducted which 
is required to meet the dues of the Crown, the ranger, and those 
