226 



FOOD HABITS AND REQUIREMENTS 



divide these into cover types. These may be classified as open land: overgrown land: hard- 

 wood, softwood and mixed forest; slashings; and hums. 



In New York, by far the largest part of the open land rover type, in the territory where 

 grouse are common, is composed of poor hill pasture, together with a little meadow and crop- 

 land. Farming here is a precarious business at best and abandoned farms are becoming in- 

 creasingly common. When this occurs open areas revert to "poverty grass," weeds and moss. 



I'ASTIKI..^ AM) 111.1.1).^. 1.1.11 lu THEMSELVES, SOON REVEKT TO OVERGROWN L.\NU^. lll.UL M'H- 

 CIES PROVIDING EXCELLENT GROUSE FOOD AND SOME SHELTER ARE APT TO BE PLENTIFUL 



The character and composition varies with the last farm use and the degree of soil depletion. 

 Especially on old meadows and in better pastures, an abundance of strawberries and of 

 sedges, both seasonallv important to grouse, may be produced. Areas that have been denuded 

 by lire also may grow sedges, but seldom produce an abundance of strawberries. 



Even before abandonment, ill-kept pastures and fields may be invaded by brush species 

 such as sumachs, briers, scrub apples and thornapples. Because of unpalalability, thorns or 

 sheer toughness, these plants are able to endure moderate browsing by stock. With this 

 pressure removed there develops a typical overgrown land association of the above mentioned 

 species together with pin and choke cherries, aspens, birches and other trees. These establish 

 themselves first in the protection of stone piles, stumps and old walls. From here they spread 

 in ever-increasing numbers. 



As the density of the stand and the consequent competition for growing space increase, the 

 tree species arc able t<j overtop the shrubs and reduce them to a subordinate position, eventually 

 to be crowded out entirely. As these trees form woods, they shade out the grasses and prepare 

 the ground for the seedlings of the longer-lived species. Important among the latter are beech, 



