RELATION TO HEATHER 83 



slight value for pastoral purposes. But 

 the likelihood is that common heath had 

 little pecuniary value at any period more 

 ancient than about a century ago. At 

 the present time it has attained its 

 maximum value in connection both with 

 pastoral farming and the attractions of 

 the member of the feathered world which 

 engages our attention. 



The heather we are here dealing with 

 is indigenous to vast moorland tracts in all 

 parts of the United Kingdom. It requires 

 no artificial or expensive systems of cul- 

 tivation, either for pastoral or sporting 

 purposes, beyond such measures of pro- 

 tection from injury or destruction to 

 which it is open from natural elements as 

 well as the ignorance or neglect of its 

 caretakers. 



Such parts of the immemorial tracts of 

 moor and mountain in Scotland (which in 

 the present day extend to over 9,000,000 

 acres) as were not occupied by the some- 

 what fabulous Caledonian Forests were 

 doubtless clothed with heather. But it was 





