thy shores appear._--ALEXANDER POPE.


We shall use the word afforestation here to denote the steps to be taken
for promoting the growth of timber on a large scale. The original sense
in which it is employed in any historical or legal work is quite
different. There it means turning a track of land into a forest, and a
forest did not mean land covered with timber trees, but a "certain
territory of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild
beasts and fowles of the forest to rest and abide in," in "the
protection of the King for his princely delight and pleasure." It was
subject to special jurisdiction, and special officers were appointed
over it "to the end that it may the better be preserved and kept for a
place of recreation and pastime meet for the royal dignity of a prince."
The Forest Laws were oppressive, and for the purpose of afforestation
many wrongs were committed. In the Crown forests, like Epping Forest and
the New Forest, there were a number of commoners who had special rights
of pasture and of taking certain things from the forest, such as
firewood "that might do them good." It is by the assertion of such
ancient rights of common that Epping Forest has been preserved as a
place of recreation for the people of East London, and that so much of
the New Forest remains open land. The latter is a source of perennial
enjoyment to those who visit it, and maintains the successors of the
old forest commoners in prosperity, due largely to the fact that they
can graze ponies there and feed pigs on the acorns and beechmast.
Whatever steps are taken to promote the growth of timber--and much has
been done from time to time in the New Forest with that object--it is
important that these valuable common rights should be preserved, and
that the value of open lands for the health and recreation of the people
should not be overlooked.