150 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



conditions, the number and health of the birds will be 

 affected by the conduct and care of the keeper in 

 charge." 



The main points to be attended to by the keeper in 

 the management of a moor are 



1. The judicious burning of the heather. 



2. The regulation of the water-supply. 



3. The elimination of vermin. 



4. The suppression of poachers. 



5. The feeding of the birds in hard weather. 



6. The introduction of new blood. 



7. The destruction, in the autumn, of old cocks. 



8. Judicious planting round and upon lower parts 

 of the moor, useful for sheep and birds. 



9. Careful and reasonable control of the number 

 of sheep. 



10. The laying down of grit and lime. 



11. The removal and burning of all dead matter, 

 such as dead grouse, dead crows, dead vermin of all 

 kinds, but particularly the carcases of sheep. 



12. The careful bushing of wire fences and the 

 placing of discs of metal on any telegraph wires that 

 may be near. 



13. The keeping down of bracken by cutting in June. 

 These points may be considered seriatim : 



i . Judicious Burning of the Heather. The burning 

 of the heather depends, of course, upon the conditions of 

 the weather in different parts of the country in different 

 seasons, but it may be laid down as a general rule that 



