502 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



if old stick heather has been burned, this close time must be doubled. It 

 is a mistake to keep the ground fenced for too long a time ; the sheep 

 should be allowed to return as soon as the heather seedlings are rooted in 

 the ground, otherwise there is a danger of moss growing up and choking 

 the young plants. It will be found advisable, in order to save fencing, to 

 fence square blocks chosen as a rule on ground which will rapidly come 

 back to heather. Woven fences with iron standards which can be rolled 

 up and shifted on pony back will probably be found to be most convenient. 

 The size and number of the patches will naturally vary with the extent of 

 the moor, and the amount of money that the owner is prepared to spend. It 

 will probably be found better to enclose a few good-sized blocks of 6 

 to 20 acres rather than a number of small patches. Care should be taken 

 to select the position of these blocks so as to suit the drives on the moor. 

 All wire fences should be carefully bushed with heather, for experience shows 

 that new fences are specially dangerous to the Grouse stock. 



