rural. Here, as elsewhere, enclosures of orchard, garden and meadow have encroached upon the forest in modern times, though doubtless, in the Norman period of our history, it was densely wooded. From the woods in its vicinity were cut the shingles for the roof of Salisbury Cathedral. But though its annual crops of acorns and beech mast have diminished with its herds of swine, which ran wild amongst its glades and thickets, it has an abundant store of Apple-trees in its orchards and gardens, and, as we pass through the little village on our way to Stoneycross, we note the green and gold and red of the fruit with which they are heavily laden. We take the road, at a four-cross way, that leads towards Southampton and Cadenham Green and go down hill under leafy shadows, reaching in a few moments the pretty hamlet of Brook, getting pretty peeps of common, forest, and farm and cottage enclosure as our road slightly ascends. We cross the stream (that doubtless gave its name to Brook) and pass from Hampshire into a little corner of Wiltshire, walk a little way under the shadows of Oaks, bordering either side of our winding way, and presently, again crossing the same stream, find ourselves once more in Hampshire. We follow what is now a winding road through the forest, with Oaks on both sides of the way-the woods and glades being wild and the surface |