THE SCOTCH FORESTS. 151 



Scotland, was the first noLlenian who found sucli a 

 fascinating charm in deer-stallving, and by his perse- 

 verance in planting several thousand acres witli this 

 tree, had an ample field for indulging in his favourite 

 sport. I have Leen told L}- persons acquainted with 

 him that he was a most expert shot with a rifle. 



In many of the newspapers great complaints liave 

 heen made at so many thousand acres being given up 

 to deer-stalking and grouse shooting which formerly 

 afforded pasturage to large flocks of sheep, and in some 

 of the valleys and more fertile parts to the small black 

 cattle, and that in the indulgence of these field sports 

 the community suffers considerably by the loss of this 

 pasturage. But I verily believe this has been much 

 exaggerated, and as a proof I will give an extract from 

 what a gentleman, who is an experienced deer-stalker, 

 says on this subject. " Some forests are entirely cleared 

 of cattle, others only partially so ; thus, for instance, in 

 one forest the agi-eement was that the sheep and cattle 

 were to be removed by the 11th of August from that 

 portion not entirely reserved for deer ; part of it was 

 always for deer." 



Deer will not remain where there are cattle and 

 sheep, but where cattle and sheep are, it is not properly 

 a deer forest. The usual plan, however, is to have a 

 sanctuary, and the sheep and cattle removed during the 

 stalking season. The large forests, such as the Mar 

 Forest, and Invercauld, Blair, Ardvarkie, and one or 

 two others are reserved for deer. 



M-lien the Diike informed him that they should have been phnited in the 

 open air. A short time afterwards the gardener passing the dung-heap, 

 observed that the discarded phmts were alive and throwing out green 

 shoots, and immediately followed the Duke's recommendation, and these 

 plants formed the fii-st plantation on the Athol estate. 



