THE MOOR 151 



the best time for burning is as soon after the legal day, 

 ist November, as possible. Although I know it is a 

 disputed point, my experience has been that heather 

 burns more thoroughly in the autumn than in the spring, 

 if one can get a spell of dry weather. Though it may 

 appear green, there seems to be an oil that keeps it 

 alight, and one can burn against the wind, the flame 

 eating up everything as it goes. On no account put off 

 to the last few days, as many keepers do. During this 

 period advantage should be taken of every dry day. 

 Heather-burning is controlled in Scotland by an Act 

 passed in 1773, whereby any person setting fire to heath 

 or moor between i ith April and ist November is, on 

 conviction, liable to a penalty of 2 for the first offence, 

 $ for the second, and 10 for the third and every 

 subsequent offence, or, failing payment, imprisonment. 

 The owner, tenant, or occupier of the said lands shall 

 be found guilty unless he can prove that the fire origin- 

 ated on other lands, or was caused neither by his tenants 

 nor members of his household. An extension of time 

 until 2Oth April may be obtained by proprietors of wet 

 or high moorlands which are in their own occupation. 

 As, however, this is about the date when birds generally 

 start laying, great care should be exercised, and if there 

 are any signs of eggs, no more burning should be done; 

 if the lands are let, proprietors may authorise their 

 tenants to burn under the terms of this extension. 

 Notice must be sent before commencing operations to 

 the sheriff-clerk of the county, along with a fee of is. 



