Management of the Rulied Grouse 331 



human population is denser and ti-ansportation facilities are good, 

 so that in tliese instances, too, fires do not ordinarily damage very 

 large areas. Farmers should be particularly careful with fires to 

 prevent such escapes. Burning of fields and hedge-rows is misdi- 

 rected effort and should be discouraged. And, of course, any use of 

 fire in the woods itself should be attended by the greatest care. 



In some parts of the country where fires are most prevalent in 

 farming lands, especially in the Appalachian oak and oak-pine areas, 

 the use of cleared lanes for fire control is justified. The greatest need 

 in that section is for a change of habit on the part of the residents 

 with respect to burning the land. They should be taught and shown 

 that it does not pay. 



IMPROVEMENT OF WOODLAND COVER 



In forestry, the systematic tending of woodland is known as silvi- 

 culture. If the objective, or one of the objectives, is a crop of grouse, 

 and improvement work is directed partially toward that end, it is 

 still essentially silviculture, although some wild-life men, fearing a 

 confusion with timber culture, prefer to use other terms, such as 

 fericulture, game management, etc. The attempt to substitute other 

 terms implies separation from woods culture for wood products, and 

 such separation is not only undesirable but impossible. 



"The ideal woodland for wild life . . . will be an uneven aged 

 stand, predominately second growth and immature ... a mixed 

 woods of both hardwood and conifers. ... It is well to maintain 

 a scattering of all species native of the type. ... All shelter and 

 food types needed . . . must exist within the area covered by an 

 individual of the species" (Edminster, 1941). This is in general con- 

 sistent with sound timber management, in that we need stands of 

 all ages to insure a continuing harvest and the inclusion of many 

 species for diversity of products. The degree to which the needs of 

 trees for wood products agree with those of grouse will, however, 

 depend considerably upon local markets, for markets are vital in 

 deciding what the crop plants should be. But market and other 

 problems merely modify the general forestry principle that a good 

 woodland is well-balanced with respect to both age classes and 

 species composition. 



Determination of silvicultiiral practices to be followed in any 



