432 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



that the former is, as a rule, but an autumn visitor. Though his trust in 

 gh ,. himself be great, and his experience of shooting not small, his 

 tenants knowledge is but too often confined to the months when the heather 

 autumn i s i n bloom, and the climatic conditions are at their best. He may 



visitors. 



never have visited the ground during the late winter and early- 

 spring months, when the food is short and when the results of moor manage- 

 ment are put to the test. 



The tenant's knowledge of keepers and their duties is also apt to be 

 perfunctory. A little keenness at shooting time, and a few excuses on the 

 plea of a wet nesting season or bad weather for heather - burning, are quite 

 enough to satisfy the average tenant that every effort has been made to 

 get the best possible results from the moor. In this way the inefficients 

 escape dismissal, and the specious are awarded undeserved praise. 



When the keeper is the landlord's servant a very different state of things 



exists. In the first place, the supervision is continuous and not inter- 



mittent. In a year with a short burning season, the foresters' staff, 



tages'of t ne shepherds and the labourers employed on the estate can be 



turned on for a few days' burning ; draining can be done under an 

 servant expert sheep-drainer, and the estate personnel and organisation utilised 

 without incurring additional expense. Again, in dealing with grazing 

 tenants, the landlord's keeper gets more effective support from the agent, 

 and has the minor difficulties arising from sheep gatherings, dippings, etc., 

 more satisfactorily settled than if the arrangement has to be made through 

 a third party or by a stranger. 



This question of the relations between the gamekeeper on the one hand, 

 and the agricultural tenants and their employes on the other, is one to which 

 it is impossible to attach too much importance. The efforts of the most 

 efficient gamekeeper may be nullified by the spite of a hostile farmer or 

 shepherd, while, should a good understanding exist, it will be found that 

 the interests of the moor are studied by all, and that every shepherd is a 

 self-appointed watcher, and not infrequently the best informed man about 

 the moor. 



Without dwelling further on this aspect of the question, it may be said 

 that whether from the point of view of management, supervision, or outside 

 help, grave risk is incurred, and no advantage gained, by the transfer of 

 the keeper from the landlord's to the tenant's service. 



