G2 THE GROUSE 



A most important and in the present 

 day mnch-canvassed question is, whether 

 the ideal grouse moor should be that and 

 nothing else, or whether equal success, or 

 at least reasonably successful results in 

 rearing and preserving grouse, are not had 

 where the moor is occupied by sheep 

 along with grouse ? There are many 

 convinced advocates of each of these 

 views ; but it would seem that those who 

 hold to the no-sheep system are steadily 

 erowinff in numbers and influence. Their 

 view of the matter has perhaps been helped 

 by the small return which pastoral farm- 

 ing now commands, and may also be 

 buttressed by the rapid substitution of 

 shooting by driving instead of over dogs. 

 On the other hand, there are equally 

 convinced supporters of the view that 

 a moderate stock of sheep is not only of 

 no detriment to sport, but is in some 

 respects beneficial ; for example, in the 

 keeping down of bracken by the tread of 

 sheep over this pestiferous and widely 

 distributed plant, when it is at a tender 



