298 NATURE AND WOODCEAFT. 



at once. That which is long and benty, bare 

 and thin, ought to be burned first ; this will be 

 found to be loose and open below, the tough 

 twigs furnishing neither food nor shelter. The 

 best proportion to burn is about an eighth of 

 the whole moor ; and, after the annual rotations 

 are once completed, it will be found that the 

 shrub never gets so long as to be injurious to 

 game. 



The good effects of burning are manifold. 

 The ash of the burnt plant aids in producing 

 finer and sweeter herbage, and soon delicate 

 heath-shoots peep through— the flowers of these 

 sweet-smelling and brightly coloured. When 

 this is done, the grouse-packs flock from the 

 neighbouring moors, as do sheep and deer. 

 Among growing ling and mountain shrubs, 

 Grouse at certain seasons feed upon the seeds 

 of coarse moorland grasses; also upon the 

 leaves and berries of the black and red Whortle- 

 berry, Crowberry, and occasionally oats if these 

 are grown on the confines of the moor. The 

 growth of berry-bearing bushes is encouraged 

 by clearing, and, when once the experiment 

 is progressing, heather of good quality and 

 of every stage of growth will be the result. 



