406 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



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. The 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-burned 

 heather, the great object being to get rid of the large tracts of old useless heather 

 which are of no value either for Grouse or sheep. They confirmed the view of the 

 Committee that high ground with a northern exposure can only be burned in 

 the spring in very exceptional years. 



The sheep-farmers further drew attention to the following points : 



(1) That where heather is allowed to grow too old, there is a danger of 



its place being taken by bracken after burning, whereas if the heather 

 is burned young the fresh growth has more vitality and usually 

 defeats the bracken. 



(2) That old heather is undesirable because after burning many " burrens " 



or bare sticks are left which tear the wool off the sheep's bellies. 



(3) That sheep-farmers prefer the heather to be burned in large patches, 



because otherwise a large enough area is not burned each year ; but 

 that they have no objection to burning in small patches and strips, 

 provided the total area burned reaches the full proportion proper 

 to the moor. This proportion was estimated at from one-ninth to 

 one-twelfth of the total acreage. 



On the actual methods of carrying out the burning there is not much to 

 be said. The gear is simple ; a birch broom and a paraffin firing lamp. 1 The 

 Methods of necessary party of six or eight men under a keeper can work in pairs 

 prc Ire- on a calm day with a fairly dry moor, the keeper starting the fire, 

 the couples guiding its course, extinguishing and controlling it as occasion 

 demands. In windy weather, or when the heather gets dry, the whole party 

 have to act together, and in consequence, though the individual burning may 

 be done at a quicker rate, a smaller total area will be got through in a 

 day. As a health-giving exercise heather-burning has much to commend it ; it is 

 particularly hard work and trying to clothes, temper, and especially to the eyes. 



1 Special lamps are sold for the purpose. 



