Ch. XL. MANAGEMENT. 245 



a large number of deer died at Badminton, in Gloucestershire, in consequence 

 of having eaten the leaves and branches of a yew-tree, heavily weighed 

 down by the snow outside the fence of this park. 



A writer in ' Notes and Queries ' has preserved a curious account of the 

 effects of another evergreen upon deer. ' In the palmy days of Cranborne 

 Chase,' he says, 'the. season for killing "dry" does began at Martintide 

 (Nov. 11), and ended at Candlemas (Feb. 2). Now it was customary with 

 the keepers to produce the effect of natural sterility by inducing abortion 

 in the female deer, and this they did by laying branches of mistletoe in 

 their feeding grounds some two or three months before the season com- 

 menced. The plan succeeded, but it was said that the venison in such 

 cases was deficient in flavour : this was probably a piece of woodcraft con- 

 fined by traditional usage to this district.' ' 



After food of natural growth, we must not forget beans as the most 

 valuable of that of artificial production, which are used most extensively in 

 almost every park, and with the greatest advantage, particularly in spring, 

 when it helps to correct the too great acidity of the young grass ; when 

 beans cannot be had, Indian corn is sometimes used, and also in one park 

 (Chetwynd, in Shropshire), the refuse from the thrashing machine is found 

 to be very excellent feeding for the deer in winter. Turnips and mangold- 

 worzell are also extensively used for the winter feeding of deer, particularly 

 in Ireland, and in those counties in England where beans are not very 

 prevalent. 



For stall and paddock feeding, swedes, hay, and beans are generally 

 given, and with such advantage in Northwith Park, in Worcestershire, that 

 thirty-five bucks are generally fat and fit to kill about the 21st of May. 

 The same system is pursued in Buncombe Park, in Yorkshire (where corn 

 also is given), and on a large scale at Eastwell and Godmersham Parks, in 

 Kent. The manner in which the deer are caught in these parks for the 

 purpose of being transferred to the paddocks is peculiar to them ; and 



' Notes and Queries, 3rd series, vii. 227. 



