274 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



it, of continuing the shooting should you wish to, 

 which, if disease appears, you are not likely to do. 



If disease was last present on a moor about three 

 seasons ago, and the birds are increasing in numbers, 

 you need not be afraid of hiring it for three years. 



THE CHOICE OF A MOOR FOE WORKING WITH POINTERS 

 OR SETTERS 



This will be quite different from the flat ground that 

 would be required for a ' driving ' moor. To shoot 

 grouse over dogs we desire an undulating surface and 

 good cover for the birds to lie in to the gun. 



It should have plenty of young heather, as a 

 result of judicious burning, for the grouse to feed on ; 

 for when food is scarce the birds will be scarce too, 

 and very often unhealthy as well. It should also have 

 an abundance of high thick heather as cover for 

 them to lie in when you are out shooting. A large 

 preponderance of the one or the other, and the moor 

 will not be suitable for working with dogs ; for, if there 

 has been very extensive burning, there will be so 

 much young heather that, though the grouse may be 

 plentiful, they will not, from a want of shelter, allow 

 you to approach them. 



If the moor consists chiefly of old dry thin heather, 

 there will be little food for the birds, and they will 

 not thrive or exist in fair numbers. The young and 

 old heather should be well intermixed ; half a hillside 



