Hunting in Many Lands 



sence of underbrush, forest fires are far less 

 common than would be expected ; but, of 

 course, the soil is impoverished by the depri- 

 vation of its natural enrichment, the decay- 

 ing wood, and the centuries to come will 

 there, as well nigh everywhere in our country, 

 point the finger of scorn at our spendthrift 

 forestry. 



Although this is the chief economic injury, 

 the beauty of the woods is sadly marred ; all 

 large game is frightened away, except the 

 bear, which is half human and half hog in 

 his methods, and minds it not at all — in fact, 

 finds the presence of man perfectly intelligi- 

 ble, and his fat flocks a substantial addition to 

 his own bill of fare. Leonard pointed out to 

 us a certain mountain shrub, a rank poison to 

 sheep. Every cluster of it in his range is 

 known to the herder, who keeps the sheep in 

 his charge at a safe distance. This is one of 

 his important duties; for, if a sheep eats of this 

 plant, he is a "goner." 



In one particular the pasturage of the high 

 Sierras has greatly suffered. The ranchmen 

 naturally wish to get their sheep off the home 

 range as early in the spring as possible — in 

 fact, the last month there is one of starvation. 



J 94 



