FORES T A D MINIS FRA TION 
69 
No one, vve imagine, who has seen Miss Kemp-Welch’s 
spirited picture of Forest Ponies, now in the Tate Gallery, will 
wish to deprive the New Forest of such an element of the 
picturesque as these ponies afford ; and there is very probably 
considerable truth in Mr. Auberon Herbert’s contention that we 
owe the “ lawns ” of the Forest very largely to the action of the 
commoners’ cattle. At the same time, though some seedling 
trees do grow up in the midst of protecting thorns, it cannot be 
denied that cows are decidedly detrimental to young trees ; so 
that the question arises whether it is not essential, in the 
interests of the nation, that parts of the Forest should be from 
time to time enclosed, to permit regeneration. 
In Norman times, another reason for forest conservation 
became prominent. They were looked upon mainly as hunting 
grounds for the king and the nobility. Common rights were not 
objected to, so long as they did not conflict with game preserva- 
tion. Poaching became the chief forest offence ; and, so far 
from enclosure for cultivation being permitted, there was a 
constant endeavour to enlarge the bounds of the forest. It is 
from this period that we inherit our modern game laws ; and, 
though the keeper is often too fond of using his gun for the 
destruction of useful or harmless “ vermin,” he may, when 
properly instructed, be utilised as a protector — and some pro- 
tector is indispensable — of wild life in a forest sanctuary. 
“ Vested interests ” are costly things to get rid of ; and, since as 
long as hunting and shooting rights remain the sportsman will 
pay the keepers for game preservation, whilst in that “ Adamless 
Eden,” a pure sanctuary, keepers must be provided from other 
sources, we can well understand the attitude of Mr. Whitburn 
and the Guildford Society as to Wolmer Forest, described in our 
last month’s issue. It is true that, though hunting and shooting 
rights were not altogether extinguished in Epping Forest when 
that area was rescued alike from the builder and from the lopper, 
we have there the forest-keeper without a gun, and preservation, 
of wild life other than game ; but the case of this comparatively 
small area is altogether dissimilar to those of the New Forest 
and the Forest of Dean. Though affording a convenient 
pleasure resort to the largest urban population in the world, 
Epping Forest does not so entirely enclose any village that no 
land other than forest is to be had for “ accommodation land,” 
public purposes, or building expansion. It has, moreover, the 
large trust funds of the Corporation of London upon which to 
draw for its keepers’ wages. 
Though the welfare of the deer may have led to the 
encouragement or even to the sowing of beech, as it did to the 
protection of the crab-apple from lopping, there does not seem 
to have been any systematic artificial regeneration of forest in 
Norman times. The forester of those days of romance when 
Mr. Maurice Hewlett’s Forest lovers led their adventurous lives 
in Morgraunt. was interested in the venison, but not, like his 
