WOODS AND PLANTATIONS 
187 
timber plantations ; many of the precipices upon the 
banks of the Severn, and sides of hills elsewhere, are 
well planted with fir, intermixed with other kinds of 
timber trees: at Tardebig, Lord Plymouth’s planta¬ 
tions are very extensive, abounding with oaks in vari¬ 
ous stages of growth. 
The vallies upon the rivers are pretty well stocked 
with poplar and willow, and particularly the course 
of the river Teme, which is often enveloped in willow 
plantations. 
The Forest of Wire, near Bewdley, extends into 
Shropshire, but a considerable tract of it is in Wor¬ 
cestershire ; this is a great nursery for oak poles and 
underwood, which are cut out at stated periods, re¬ 
serving timber trees at proper distances ; the oak poles, 
which are often shoots from old roots, are innumera¬ 
ble ; and very great numbers are cut down annually, 
and, after being stripped of their bark, are sold for 
making rails, hurdles, laths, &c. under the name of 
black poles. 
Upon the Madresfield estate of Lord Beauchamp is a 
great profusion of tiqnber, and some very capital fine 
oaks; upon the Severn-end estate ©f Mr. Lechmere are 
many very fine elms and oaks; I noticed an oak, contain¬ 
ing by estimate S00 feet of timber, and 30 cwt. of bark; 
an elm was lately there felled, containing 700 feet of 
sound timber; it was ascertained to have been of about 
140 years growth, and had grown five foot annual 
average. 
CHAP. 
