168 EPPING FOREST
the superintendent's residence, for its protection,
but I can find no authority for this in the
Act of Parliament, which is extremely explicit as
to the purposes for which forest land may be
enclosed, and expressly forbids enclosure for any
other reason. The official map on the scale of
25 inches to the mile is the paramount authority
as to the actual boundaries. An idea prevails that
where a hedge and ditch bound the Forest, both
belong to the adjoining proprietor, but this rule
is subject to many limitations. I advocate a series
of permanent boundary posts or marks, wherever
there is room for question. This was the practice
in olden times.1
Sewage.—It seems almost an offence even to
name the word in connection with the Forest.
Yet there are people who, because it is technically
described as "waste," think that they are entitled
to dump down their filth on it. After twenty
years of protest against this outrage, there are still
cases in which abominations are allowed to flow
on to it as if it were no man's land. I admit the
difficulties in which isolated houses may be placed.
Yet the resources of civilisation have not been
exhausted. Whenever there is a bad outbreak of
cholera we shall perhaps succeed in effecting a
complete reform.
Old Cultivation Marks.—Large blocks of
the Forest were enclosed about 1860, the trees
removed, and the land ploughed up. Although
they have been long ago restored to the use of
the public, the "ringes," as the cultivation ridges
are called, still remain. They are very uncomfort-
able to ride or walk upon, a hindrance to games,
and ugly in themselves. Some experiments have
been made with a heavy steam roller. They were
expensive, but fairly successful, when the weight
was persistently applied, and the land in the
proper condition. I hope the Committee will
some day try it on a larger scale.
1 Professor Meldola has recently investigated the subject,
and has succeeded in unearthing several of the old boundary
stones of Waltham Forest.