72 FORESTRY 



choice of the species, the severe early thinnings, the later 

 treatment of the open woods, the mode of conducting the 

 fellings, are all carried out as required by the gamekeeper 

 rather -than the forester. No doubt, the woods have gene- 

 rally fulfilled their object, and so may be said to have 

 succeeded. Still, it is now seen that woodlands are capable 

 of more. They should continue to give shelter and cover to 

 animals of the chase, and certain plantations may always exist 

 exclusively for these purposes ; but the serious pursuit of 

 forestry should limit sport to a place subordinate to that 

 of timber production. The two are not incompatible : sylvi- 

 culturally managed woods need not be, and in reality are not, 

 without game ; but owing to their interests being somewhat 

 opposed, the kind and quantity of game must be regulated 

 by, and made subservient to, the well-being of the forest. 



The most harmful of the animals maintained for sport is 

 the RABBIT. It bites and gnaws the bark of woody plants, 

 nibbles the young shoots of practically all species of forest 

 trees, and does a certain amount of harm by burrowing. 

 Rabbits render natural regeneration impossible, and a very 

 small number of them will quickly ruin any young plantation. 

 They will even attack and kill smooth-barked trees of a foot 

 or more in diameter by stripping the bark from the base 

 of the stems. 



Fences three to four feet in height, having wire-netting of 

 fine mesh, buried partly in the ground and curved to the 

 outside to prevent the animals scraping a way through, are 

 some protection. But very young rabbits often get through 

 the meshes, and older ones jump and climb over. During 

 snowstorms in winter fences become hidden by accumulations 

 of drifted snow, and then the creatures, ravenous for food, 

 easily effect an entrance and do an immense amount of 

 damage. Ferreting is useful ; and foxes and weasels, as 

 natural enemies, should be protected. Trapping is a general 

 practice, but is not usually thorough enough ; suffocation by 

 poisonous fumes may well be brought to bear upon this 

 dreadful scourge for its extermination. Burrows within en- 



