tirely open, or one of them only closed. A mat should be suspended before the doors, to protect the trees from night frosts.
The fruit-trees most proper for this management are, the avant, or small white nutmeg, the Albemarle, the early Newington, and the brown nutmeg-peaches; Mr. Fairchild's early, the elrugo, and Newington nectarines; the masculine apricot; and the May-duke and May-cherry.—With respect to vines, the white and black sweet-water grapes will thrive most favourably: for early gooseberries, the Dutch-white, the Dutch early green, and the walnut-gooseberry, are the best sorts; and for currants, the large Dutch-white, as well as the red currants, are equally prosperous.— See Hot-houses.
Forcing of Wine. See Clarification.
FOREST, generally speaking, signifies a large tract of land, covered with trees.
The principal forests in this country are those of Sherwood, Windsor, the New Forest, that of Dean, on the north of the river Severn, and Epping-forest, in the county of Essex. There are, besides, several smaller forests, the total extent of which, together with those just enumerated, amounts to about 300,000 acres. The utility of forests, to a commercial nation, is very great; as, by the quantity of timber they afford, a considerable expence may he saved, which must otherwise be incurred by the importation of materials for ship-building.
Independently of these considerations, forests of a moderate extent are a national ornament, especially if they do not occupy such lands as could be more usefully employed in agriculture. Formerly, England abounded with woods, and was celebrated for its lofty and majestic oak, which, however, of late years has become scarce. On the contrary, various large tracts of uncultivated ground might now be advantageously planted with larch, fir, and other trees; but, as these expensive undertakings are beyond the ability of private individuals, it is to be hoped that the Commissioners of the Land Revenue will be able speedily to carry so patriotic a measure into effect.—See Plantation.
FORE-STALLING is the buying of, or bargaining for, corn, cattle, or other merchandize, in its passage to fairs, or markets, for sale, with an intent to dispose of them again at an advanced price.
The punishment for this offence, on conviction by two or more witnesses, is, for the first time, two months imprisonment, and forfeiture of the goods, or their value; for the second, the offender incurs an imprisonment of six months, and loses double the value of the articles; and, for the third offence, he is liable to imprisonment during the King's pleasure; to a forfeiture of all his property; and is to be sentenced to stand in the pillory.
Severe, however, as these regulations appear, they have hitherto not been attended with the desired effect. Notwithstanding all the arguments and invectives that have been employed against this growing evil, in printed works, and in the courts of justice, we are persuaded that it will never be crushed, till national councils adopt proper and effectual measures for preventing this iniquitous practice. Nay, others assert, that the root of the mischief is intimately connected with the
