WOODLANDS, GAME, AND SPORT 309 



by men delving and trenching during the autumn, 

 so as to let the earth be acted on by frost and air 

 in order that the prepared strips or patches may 

 form a favourable germinating bed for the seed to 

 be sown on them in spring. And then, after much 

 trouble and expense have been incurred, when the 

 wire-fences round young plantations, natural re- 

 generations, or encoppicements are removed and 

 the area is thrown open, the danger from ground 

 game still remains ; and one hard winter may 

 result in damage to such an extent that the 

 financial success of that particular crop is practi- 

 cally impossible. To take the case of one estate, 

 out of about a hundred thousand ash planted 

 within the last ten years, to reap the advantages 

 offered by this valuable tree, only a few now re- 

 main. The soil being suitable, the plants did well 

 so long as they were left alone, but when rabbits 

 were allowed to get at them they very soon more 

 than decimated the promising young crop of ash. 



Proof after proof as to the destructiveness of 

 ground game could be adduced to an overwhelm- 

 ing extent if it would serve any really practical 

 purpose. There can be no remedy except con- 

 stant expenditure to repair damage, and usually 



