FOREST PROTECTION 71 



DOMESTIC GRAZING ANIMALS destroy the forest by nibbling 

 buds, shoots, and leaves, trampling upon seedlings and young 

 growth, loosening the soil upon steep slopes, damaging open 

 drains, and in other ways. The goat is the most injurious, 

 and where it occurs plentifully, natural reproduction of the 

 forest is out of the question ; sheep may be classed as coming 

 next to the goat in point of harmfulness ; cattle ', in the forest, 

 do not damage trees to a very great extent, preferring grass, 

 if it be present ; still, both they and horses bite and tear 

 plants, and also injure surface roots by treading ; they are 

 exceedingly destructive to isolated young trees in parks. The 

 practice of driving pigs into woods for pannage has nearly 

 ceased. It is, perhaps, unfortunate, as they were more 

 serviceable than harmful. They certainly eat a considerable 

 quantity of Beech and Oak mast, and uproot some of the 

 weaker plants ; but on the whole their action is beneficial 

 through the grubbing or stirring of the soil preparing the 

 way for seed, and by their destruction of caterpillars and 

 mice. 



The conclusion come to in regard to the relation of grazing 

 animals to the forest is that goats and sheep should be 

 rigorously excluded, and that cattle, horses, or pigs should be 

 allowed entrance only where they can do the minimum of 

 damage. None can be given grazing in a wood from the 

 time it is established by sowing or planting till the foliage is 

 quite beyond reach of the animals. Should it be decided to 

 admit a limited number of stock, adequate supervision by a 

 herdsman is a necessity, and it must be certain that the 

 legitimate food is present in sufficient quantity. 



Game 



The reconciliation of the game interest with sylviculture 

 is a difficult problem in Britain. A great number possibly 

 the majority of the woods in the country have been re- 

 garded merely or mainly as harbours for game. For this 

 end they have been created and expensively maintained ; the 



