ITS MANAGEMENT
165
the Continent, of using sledges for this purpose.
The runners glide over the surface instead of
cutting through it. I am glad to say that in this
respect my ideas have begun to prevail, and an
order has now gone forth that sledges shall be
generally used. There is nothing new in this.
It is but reverting to the ancient practice.
According to Fisher, there was in 1570 an
order that no inhabitants were to draw their
customary wood with carts. Later on we find
another order that tenants of new tenements should
not carry wood with a sledge, the meaning of this
being, not the prohibition of the sledge, but that
these new tenants were only entitled to take as
much as they could carry themselves. In 1585
the Rector of Loughton was amerced for carrying
away "custome spray," to which he had no right,
and forbidden to do so in future under pain of for-
feiting "proquolibet plaustro," anglice sledfull, the
sum of twelve pence. In 1718 certain persons
were presented for making use of wheel sleds.
In 1724 "a sledd with two horses" was, with
other particulars, prescribed by the manor court,
and a penalty of five shillings to the Lady of
the Manor was payable for any violation of this
order.
Gravel-Digging.—The Highway Authorities
are empowered by the Epping Forest Act to dig
gravel after obtaining the consent of the
Epping Forest Committee, or if that is refused
may apply to the Justices for an order, and
this is sometimes granted in the teeth of their
opposition. The privilege has been very reck-
lessly exercised in some cases, the conditions laid
down by the Forest Authorities being disregarded.
A better spirit now prevails. Many of the local
authorities have begun to see what a short-sighted
policy it is to spoil their own playground for the
sake of a doubtful, or at best a slight temporary
gain to the ratepayers. The most objectionable
feature was the practice of opening numerous
small pits close together among the trees or in
the middle of some glade or ride. This honey-