Thirdly: So numerous are the facilities in the present day, to what they used to be, for the transmission of produce of every kind from one place to another, and so many demands have, by commercial enterprize, been opened out, which were altogether unknown a quarter of a century ago, that it may, even as to heavy produce, like that of woods, be always questioned, _when the demand is slack, and when prices are low, whether the local market be indeed the best market_, or whether the produce may not be much better disposed of in some other way. That this sometimes occurs, I can prove from my own experience in many cases, but I will mention only one, which was that of an Ancient Wood, a twentieth portion of which was felled every year, and in which, from “mismanagement,” a large quantity of the stuff was annually left unsold, but where, after the introduction of a better system, the whole was disposed of without difficulty. Fourthly: A great increase of revenue may be derived from _a better mode of managing the stock_, both of timber and underwood: the latter may, by timely and judicious pruning, by a proper attention to draining, &c. _be brought to maturity_ at a much earlier period than it has hitherto been done in many places, and thus, of course, be made to return a greater rent. It is incredible how little is done to Ancient Woods compared with what ought to be done, _in the way of draining, pruning, stubbing up rubbish_, and _filling up with young plants_; although it is manifest that, whenever a wood is opened, these important operations _should_ claim the very particular attention of the proprietor or his woodman. But they do not receive it; and hence one cannot wonder at the _stunted, unhealthy_ appearance, which many woods exhibit. They are almost always without any _effective drainage_, it being generally thought quite sufficient to open out a few paltry drains, which the falling leaves of the first Autumn will _choke_ up. It will indeed very seldom be found, that even the outside ditches are well looked after: whereas it should always be the anxious concern of the woodman to provide, as well as he possibly can, for the _effectual drainage_ of a wood after being felled, not only during a year or two, but for the term of the whole cycle. Of course I am aware that the leaves _must_ fall, and, consequently, that the free egress of the water must, in some degree, be _impeded_, but, nevertheless, it is in the power of the woodman to provide, in a great measure, if not wholly, against this contingency, by making a sufficient number of ditches, of _ample capacity_, and by putting them in the best direction. But instead of this, it will very rarely be found, as I have just now said, that even the outside ditches are properly attended to. The consequence is, that the _oaks_, and our best underwood, the ash, not liking too much moisture, become diseased, and make comparatively slow progress: in