COMMON LING AND HEATHER. 



401 



forests. Heather is soon killed by the shade of trees. In 

 Scotland, lichens fostered by the moister air produced by the 

 shelter of tree-growth attack and destroy heather. 



Heather reproduces itself chiefly by seed carried by the 

 wind, and less by suckers and shoots. 



Protective Measures. 



i. Maintain a close forest growth. 



ii. Graze the heather down by sheep, but this can be done 

 only as long as the heather is young and tender. Old, tough 

 heather will be eaten by 

 sheep only as a last re- 

 source ; they will prefer 

 young forest plants. 



iii. Cut down or mow 

 the heather, specially 

 strong scythes being used 

 for the purpose. This 

 should be done either 

 early in spring or late in 

 summer, in order to keep 

 the soil somewhat pro- 

 tected against the heat of 

 summer and the winter's 

 cold. The material may 

 be used as fuel, thatch or litter, or made into brooms. 



iv. Burn the heather in situ. This may be done when 

 there are no forest plants in it the destruction of which should 

 be avoided, or immediately after a coppice felling. Fire-traces 

 of sufficient width should be made around the areas to be 

 burned, and the burning should be done on dry, still days in 

 March or April, the fire being lighted to leeward, or downhill, 

 and closely watched. 



v. The ground may be stripped of sods containing the roots 

 of the heather, and a crop of oats or rye produced, if advisable, 

 before planting it up with Scots pine. The mineral soil must be 

 exposed, so that the plants' roots are not in the sour humus. 

 The instrument shown in Fig. 197 is used for this purpose. 

 If there is a superficial pan it should be pierced. 



F.P. D D, 



ft 



Fig. 197. 

 a b = 4 inches ; c d = 10 inches : \a = 60. 



