SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL ASPECTS 173 



free development of industries, as these may spring 



\ 

 up in consequence of new trade requirements or 



economic changes, at least we should begin by 

 attacking the greater and more serious evil. And 

 yet no one so far has proposed to pass a law to 

 compel farmers to plough their land or even to 

 abstain from continuing the process of converting 

 arable into pasture. 



In the days of which I am now speaking there 

 were besides those which still remain, with which I 

 will deal presently two main grievances on the part 

 of farmers against owners of deer forests. The first 

 was what will be easily imagined viz. the incursion 

 of deer from adjoining forests on to the sheep grazings. 

 It was alleged that much of the sweet grass on the 

 tops of the hills was consumed by deer in summer, and 

 that they also poached on the lower grounds in winter, 

 to the detriment of the legitimate stock. That such 

 was the case on certain farms I kno\v for a fact ; but I 

 hardly think that at any time the evil extended over a 

 large area, and at the present day it must be still further 

 limited, seeing that most of those farms which proved 

 so attractive to deer have been handed over for their 

 legitimate use, so that they can no longer be said 

 to ' poach.' It must also be remembered that it was 

 always in the power of the shepherd, when going his 



