12 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



February as little forestry work as possible must be permitted 

 till the pheasants are shot This comprises the whole year, 

 during which the forester's work has to be done by fits and 

 starts by the grace of the keeper. We are not here thinking 

 of any single case but of many cases we have known, extending 

 over a long period. There is above all the damage to young 

 and old plantations by rabbits, which have probably destroyed 

 a large proportion of trees planted in Great Britain over a long 

 period, and contributed more than anything else to make ash 

 and other kinds of timber scarce.* The keeper receives orders 

 perhaps to clear the rabbits off certain tracts, and he promises 

 to see to it ; but the first fall of snow shows how he has 

 executed his orders by the trees destroyed, all of which have 

 to be made up, to be destroyed perhaps again and again, and 

 so on. The loss sustained on numbers of estates in this 

 way would appear incredible to some, and if only proprietors 

 would take the trouble to enquire what they have spent in 

 planting and replanting for a certain number of years, and 

 then have a report of the extent and condition of their planta- 

 tions sent to them, their eyes would be opened to a very 

 disgraceful state of things indeed. When, as has been the 

 case on a few estates, the keeper is made to understand that 

 the woods are expected to be a source of income to his 

 employer, and that he must conform to circumstances and 

 produce game as well, it is wonderful how he can adapt 

 himself to the situation ; but the great mistake lies in the 

 proprietor not insisting on the duties and responsibilities of 

 his game department being clearly defined and accounted for, 

 and in placing too much power in the hands of those who have 

 no notion of conducting their work on rational or scientific 

 principles of. any kind, and who gauge their employer by his 

 willingness and ability to spend in the way they suggest. No 

 servant has such ready access to his employer as the game- 

 keeper, who, unless he be a man of high principle, may easily 

 abuse the privilege, and many keepers have done that without 

 scruple. 



The only way to obviate this state of things is to class the 

 woods and game together, and place both under one respon- 

 sible and capable head. It is immaterial whether the forester 

 learns the keeper's duties or the keeper learns the forester's, but 

 the former is by far the most likely man for both posts. As a 

 rule he is a better educated man than keepers usually are ; his 

 duties as a forester furnish him with as many opportunities 



* This estimate is based upon reliable information received from foresters 

 on extensive estates in England and Scotland. 



