64 THE GROUSE 



the heather, with judicious management 

 of it, guarantees a constant and suitable 

 supply of the staple article of grouse food. 

 On the other hand, it is alleged that 

 moderate cropping of heather by sheep 

 is an advantage, and no detriment to 

 grouse. 



This question, it must not be forgotten, 

 has its economic side. Even were lessees 

 of grouse shootings quite prepared to 

 acquire exclusive possession of their 

 ground by adding to the ordinary shoot- 

 ing rent its pastoral rent, it is more than 

 doubtful whether a vigorous protest 

 against a general adoption of this practice 

 would not be raised. A vastly prepon- 

 derating majority, it may confidently be 

 said, are, and will always be, more con- 

 cerned with the raising of mutton for the 

 multitude than of grouse for the few. 

 Disputes, and claims arising from trespass 

 of sheep upon cleared ground, would 

 also, it is to be feared, not infrequently 

 arise. 



In a case heard last year before one of 



