HEATHER-BURNING 359 



prejudice did not appear to be founded on substantial 

 grounds ; as far as the Committee were able to learn, 

 the majority of those who expressed themselves 

 opposed to autumn-burning were found on examina- 

 tion not to have themselves tried it, and to have based 

 their opinion either on general reasons or second-hand 

 information. 



(d) That on 95 per cent, of the moors in England on which 



autumn-burning had been tried the practice had been 

 continued with the full sanction and approval of the 

 sheep farmers interested. 



(e) That at least 75 per cent, of the larger moors examined 



are insufficiently burned, and that in many cases an 

 extension of the burning period would enable a larger 

 stock of both sheep and Grouse to be maintained. 

 (/) That autumn-burning is necessary in the interests of 

 the health of the Grouse and sheep, and that legislation 

 in Scotland making it permissible to burn after 

 October 1st should be introduced into Parliament 

 without delay. 



With a view to further ascertaining the opinions of sheep- Opinion of 

 farmers on the subject of heather-burning, a meeting was farmers, 

 arranged between representatives of the Committee and a 

 number of sheep-farmers from different districts. The views 

 expressed clearly indicated that in the opinion of sheep-farmers 

 there is not enough heather burned for either Grouse or sheep 

 on the majority of moors in England and Scotland, and that 

 there is a general wish on the part of sheep-farmers on heather 

 ground that more heather should be burned. Xhe farmers 

 further stated that they would be glad to try autumn-burning 

 in co-operation with owners, and that they could probably give 

 more assistance in the autumn than in the spring, because in 

 the spring they are usually busy with sheep that have returned 

 from wintering, and with the superintendence of their stock 

 during the lambing season. They considered that it matters 

 little whether autumn-burned heather grows as well as spring- 



