638 IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING GROUSE COVERTS 



Grazing, whilr dflcn (lcliiiiicnl.il Id j;i(iii>c luiliil;il, ulicn |irii|i(il\ i mil j ullcd may be 

 used Id licl|i riii|irove liotli fdud and >licl|ci. (p. (ill). 



Eire is useful in tliinnin<i; out <;r(>iisc cover and setting back tlie succession. It is poten- 

 tially the most dangerous method of all, however, and the cost of control may there- 

 fore be high unless expertly handled, (p. 642). 

 Covert conditions vary with the site and with the past history of the cover. In producing bet- 

 ter grouse habitats, it is up to the individual to choose the method best suited to each 

 situation. The adaptation of each method to the j)roduction of better fall feeding grounds, 

 spring breeding grounds, winter shelter and summer feeding grounds is therefore de- 

 scribed in some detail, (p. 642). 



Where desired there are a number of ways in which game cover improvement work may be 

 correlated with other forest practices to produce a forest as well as a grouse crop. Where 

 these are combined it is important to select a timber crop, the encouragement and har- 

 vesting of which will result in larger grouse populations, (p. 650). 



Forest stand improvement work may be carried out to encourage both timber and game 

 production by adapting the practices here described, (p. 651, 777). 



The control of destructive forest insects and diseases, as currently practiced in New York 

 State, is seldom detrimental either to grouse cover or to the bird itself, (p. 654). 



The basic principles controlling food and shelter plantings for grouse must be clearly under- 

 stood and closely followed if satisfactory results are to be obtained. Many of the most 

 desirable trees and shrubs are not commonly used in reforestation work and are not 

 particularly easy to establish, (p. 654). 



The moisture, tolerance to shade and fertility requirements of 32 species adaptable 

 for planting in the Northeast are given in table 97. (p. 655). 



Generally sjjeaking. hardwood planting stock must be large, with a good root system 

 and carefully planted, preferably by the "center hole" technique to give it the best 

 chance for survival, (p. 660). 



Direct seeding of nut and mast species is practical only when rodents, such as squir- 

 rels and mice, are not numerous or can be controlled, (p. 661). 



Conifers seldom develop with sufTicient rapidity to provide good grouse cover when planted 

 under woodland cover, (p. 660). 



Hardwoods usually require a more fertile soil for successful establishment by artificial plant- 

 ing than do conifers, (p. 661). 



Shrubs and herbaceous cover can best be established by creating the right conditions and 

 by occasionally assisting natural seeding by judicious planting, (p. 661). White clover, 

 where the soil is neutral or alkaline, may well be encouraged, (p. 664). 



Better grouse habitats usually result from protecting the cover from fire and grazing though, 

 under certain circumstances, each may be useful in opening up to luxurious cover types 

 or in maintaining openings or brushy cover, (p. -665). 



