31

H.—sb.

Mr. Howard states that for the last three years (prior to 1S71) only 937 loads (about 46,850 cubic feet) of oak and beech timber have been felled annually, which is equivalent to about one load from every 67 acres. In order to satisfy the fuel rights of persons legally entitled to them, it is necessary to provide 389 loads of timber each year, and for that purpose to fell about 330 beech trees. I presume that this is over and above the 937 loads mentioned before. There are four verderers of the forest elected by the freeholders of the county of Hants, whose duty it is to stand between the Crown and the commoners, and adjust any differences which may arise. They represent the commoners, but are public servants, and, if I mistake not, receive some small salary or emoluments from the State. They hold periodical meetings in the Verderer's Court adjoining the Queen's House at Lyndhurst, but, Mr. Cumberbatch informs me, have not, as a rule, many cases or disputes to consider and settle. In fact, it struck me not a little how much confidence and cheerful acquiescence was shown in the deputy surveyor and his decisions and orders by all classes of the community, and the apparently utter absence of that clashing of departments of which we see so much in India. In addition to the Court of Verderers, there is a Commission appointed under the Act of ISSI to set out the 10,000 acres of enclosures, and see that the other provisions of the Act are duly carried into effect. This Commission consists of thirteen members, "of whom six are Justices of the Peace for the county, four are gentlemen possessing property in or near the forest, who have been elected by the freeholders of Hants to be verderers of the forest, and the remaining three are the two Commissioners of Woods and the deputy surveyor of the forest." Probably similar mixed Commissions will eventually be constituted in India for similar purposes. Indeed, they differ but slightly from those proposed in the Bill recently introduced for the better management of our Indian forests. I must now conclude this brief and imperfect description of the New Forest, and of the position of the Crown with respect to it, &c, &c, and again recommend to our officers a careful perusal of the reports and returns already mentioned, which clearly show the principles of management which have been adopted from time to time, and that our confreres in charge of the State forests in this country have enjoyed no immunity from the troubles, and, what one is apt to classify as vexatious opposition, which we meet with in India. Parkhtjrst Woods. These woods, situated in the Isle of Wight, extend over about 1,200 acres, and are under the charge of Mr. Gulliver, as foreman or head forester, acting under the orders of Mr. Cumberbatch, the deputy surveyor, who has also charge of the Bere, Woolmer, and Alice Holt Forests. The Park-hurst plantations are freehold of the Crown, and were commenced about the year 1814, under the authority of an Act of 1812, which applied also to other woods, and set forth that "it had become necessary to adopt measures for securing a more adequate supply of timber in the kingdom," and directed that the " enclosure to be made by the Crown under its authority should be made and reputed a nursery or nurseries for wood and timber only." The soil is chiefly a cold stiff clay, with gravel on the hills, and is very badly suited for the growth of oak, with which it appears to have been originally planted for the most part. Some of the oak first planted on the upper and drier portions of the land is doing fairly, but elsewhere the growth is stunted, and the trees stag-headed and gnarled. The beech, chestnut, and stone pine exhibit also a fair growth, but the larch planted about fourteen years ago is flourishing, and, in moderately good soil, the trees average 20 feet in height. There is also some quantity of younger larch, mixed with Scotch fir and a little spruce, planted about eight years ago, which is doing pretty well. The soil is evidently best adapted for the growth of larch. A few deodars have been planted in the rides for ornamental purposes. They are growing very slowly in the lower and damper portions of the wood, but a little better on the uplands. A good deal of damage is, Mr. Gulliver informed me, done by rabbits to the young trees, and last year a disastrous fire occurred, which swept through and destroyed some thirty acres of plantation before it could be stopped, although the soldiers from the neighbouring barracks were turned out to aid in extinguishing it. The damage done is so apparent, that I think it would convince any of those who doubt the necessitv of putting a stop to forest fires in India, and maintain that they do no harm. Luckily, the trees in this portion of the wood were of no great value, so that tho loss will be comparatively trifling. The revenue of the forest for 1870-71 was £368, and expenditure £2SB. Most of the revenue is derived from the sale of oak bark, which is small but of good quality. Last year 23^ tons were sold, which is nearly 10 tons less than the usual yield. . Scotch fir thinnings realize from 6d. to Bd. per tree on the spot, and larch a little more. On the whole, this wood does not repay a visit, and I merely inspected it as I was in the vicinity seeing Portsmouth Dockyard. The Dean Forest. Extent and Divisions. —This forest is situated in the county of Gloucester, to the north and west of the River Severn. Tho total acreage of the forest within the perambulation is 22,500 acres, but of this extent there are 3,300 acres in which the Crown has only mineral rights, leaving 19,200 acres in which the Crown has the right to the soil. The forest is under the charge of Sir James Campbell, as deputy surveyor, with one assistant. Sir James has also charge of the High Meadow Woods, which adjoin. His residence at Whitomead Park, near Coleford, is very conveniently situated as regards the forest, which extends on either side. There were until lately two assistants to the deputy surveyor, but the most of the available area having been planted up, and the trees, as a rule, being past harm's way, one has been dispensed with, and the emoluments of the one retained slightly increased.