CHAPTER VIII 



PROTECTION OF WOODS AGAINST DESTRUC- 

 TIVE ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND INSECTS. 



ANIMALS. 



HARES and rabbits, squirrels, mice, and voles, are the most 

 destructive animals in the British woods. 



Hares and rabbits do damage by gnawing the bark of young 

 plants and by biting off the buds and young shoots ; they 

 also eat the bark of large-sized trees of beech and other 

 smooth-barked species. Nearly all species are attacked with 

 the exception of lime, which has a stringy bast ; Corsican pine 

 also appears to be avoided. When rabbits are at all numerous 

 it is useless attempting to raise plantations, as there is little or 

 no chance of obtaining a full crop. Wherever serious forestry 

 is to be attempted it is absolutely necessary to get rid of them, 

 as otherwise extensive fencing with netting must be done, 

 the cost of which will run away with a large proportion of the 

 profits. Where the owner desires rabbits, it is far preferable 

 to enclose them in a warren and to get rid of them elsewhere, 

 than to have to fence every young plantation. If the owner 

 does not wish to do this, he must understand that his woods 

 are never likely to pay. When woods are netted against 

 rabbits it is only fair that the cost of the work should be 

 debited to the sporting account, and not against the woods. 

 The easiest way to get rid of rabbits is to persistently shoot 

 them ; but it will also be necessary to dig out those that escape 

 the gun, as even one rabbit can do immense destruction in 

 a young plantation. They must also be trapped. Where 

 they are few in number any rare or specially valuable trees 



