154 PHEASANTS 



forester's yield is reduced by about one- 

 third through loss of area, but the 

 eventual crop should be aU clean, sound, 

 close-grown timber. On the other hand, 

 the margin, besides offering the pheasant 

 a natural home, serves to shelter the whole 

 wood from wind, wet and cold, to the 

 benefit alike of game and forest trees. 



In conclusion, one would like to suggest 

 that on many estates of no great acreage, 

 the head-keeper might well be given the 

 charge of the woods in addition to the 

 duties of his own office. Such an arrange- 

 ment commonly obtains on the Continent, 

 and — so far as one can judge — with good 

 results, but it seems rarely, if ever, to 

 have been given a trial in this country. 

 There may be good reasons against such 

 a course, but they are not very evident, 

 and since keeper and forester have both 

 to be daily about the woods in the ordinary 

 walks of their business, it would appear 

 quite natural to place the two branches of 

 estate work under one head. 



The keeper might have to trust rather 



