ITS TREES.
105
his Majestie's navy be felled under cover hereof."
But it was due, even to a greater degree, to the de-
structive custom of pollarding, or cutting back the
stem and branches every fifteen years, at ten feet
from the ground, for purposes of fuel. The few
woods of larger growth, such as Monk Wood and
High Beach, which we possess in the Forest area, are
exceptions to the rule; and it will be observed that
even these have been pollarded at some former
time, as will be seen from the branches all break-
ing from the stem at the same height from the
ground, although they were subsequently allowed
unlimited freedom. We probably owe these groves
to the foresight of the monks of Waltham, or
possibly to their sporting instincts. At least, it is
recorded that " they were permitted to assart their
lands in Woodford and many other places; and
enclose them with a ditch and low hedge, that
they might take of their woods at their pleasure,
to hunt the fox, hare, and cat in the forest; that
their dogs should not be expeditated, etc." The
mop-head growth substituted by the process of
lopping, for the natural shape, is not only destruc-
tive of all variety and grandeur in the timber,
but owing to the lodgment of moisture in the
crown, and the consequent rotting of the heart of
the timber, is fatal to the health and long life of
the tree, and weakens its resistance to gales. All
kinds of trees were subject to this periodical
mutilation except the crab-apple trees, which
abound in some sections, and which were specially
excepted on account of the deer, who greedily
devour the bright-coloured, but to our taste bitter
fruit, when it falls in the autumn. While, how-
ever, we cannot but regret the effects of this