96 THE GROUSE 



whether it be the farm or the shooting. 

 Thus altitude, climate, soil, and exposure 

 are all factors in the case, and have all 

 an important influence on the growth of 

 heather, as on all other forms of vegeta- 

 tion. 



In some districts, and in the north and 

 north - west of Scotland especially, re- 

 growth of heather is extremely slow. It 

 is therefore of double importance in such 

 districts that the period of heather burn- 

 ing should be discreetly chosen and 

 effectually performed, so as to excite 

 regrowth with all attainable rapidity. 

 In these districts of excessive rainfall and 

 poverty of soil, if heather is permitted to 

 live too long, or to attain unusual height 

 and density before being burnt, regrowth 

 not seldom fails altogether, and these 

 areas are taken possession of by the 

 unprofitable bracken, or other forms of 

 vegetation nearly as valueless. Here it 

 may be said that it has been observed 

 that heather generally grows better, and 

 retains its freshness and succulency longer 



