88 THE GROUSE 



In the past divergent views were very 

 common as to (1) by whom heather 

 burning should be undertaken, whether 

 by the proprietor or grazing tenant, or by 

 them conjointly ; (2) at what age heather 

 should be burnt ; (3) what extent in a 

 single season should be fired ; (4) on 

 what system burning should be done ; (5) 

 whether it is preferable to burn heather 

 early than late, within the ordinary open 

 season, or also during the period of 

 extension ; and (6) the effects on sheep 

 and grouse respectively of well-regulated 

 heather burning, and healthily produced 

 heather. These points encompass all 

 that need be said on the theory and 

 practice of heather burning. 



Before proceeding to notice these 

 phases of our subject in more detail, it 

 would have been interesting and perhaps 

 suggestive to have quoted the views of 

 early writers on those branches of rural 

 economy which in the present day are so 

 intimately connected with the manage- 

 ment of heather, but it is curious to find 



