52 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

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There are now and then opportunities of knowing the ages of oaks almost to a certainty. In cutting down some trees in Birkland, letters have been found cut or stamped in the body of the tree, marking the king’s reign, several of which I have in my possession. One piece of wood marked J. R.(James Rex) was given me by the woodman who cut the tree down in the year 1786. He said that the letters appeared to be a little above a foot within the tree, and about one foot from the centre; so that this oak must have been near six feet in circumference when the letters were cut. A tree of that size is judged to be about one hundred and twenty years growth, If we sup- pose the letters to be cut about the middle of the reign of James the First, it is 172 years to the year 1786, which added to 120, makes the tree 292 years old when it was cut down. The woodman likewise says, that the tree was perfectly sound, and had not arrived to its highest per- fection. It was about twelve feet in circumference. I have been told that J. R.(John Rex) have been found cut in some of the oaks. One piece said to be marked with John Rex, and a crown, I have in my possession; but it is not sufficiently made out to be inserted here as a fact, though the person from whom I had it assures me, from his having seen others more perfeét, that it is marked with with Jo" Rex. Others have had C. R. and several have been marked with W. M.(William and Mary) with a crown.*

A part of this wood has been taken by grant into

Thoresby Park.

Harlow Wood, Thieves Wood, and the scattered re- mains of Mansfield Woods, are of small extent, and inferior size of timber.

In Clumber Park are the remains of two woods of ve- nerable old oaks, called Clumber Wood, and Hardwick

* Descriptions and Sketches of seme remarkable oxks in the park at Welbeck, p. 16) by Hayman, Rooke, sq.