THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
fine as coarse sand, is required for immediate use, with larger pieces to 
make an impression on the coarse stalks which are eaten from time to 
time. Grouse have two chief meals, the first one very early in the morning, 
and the second one late in the afternoon, both consisting of heather leaves ; 
but all day long they keep picking up tit -bits in the shape of berries, 
seeds, and insects. They usually seek for grit about an hour before dusk, 
or in the forenoon. 
Sheep . — ^The conditions under which sheep are allowed on a moor have a 
most important bearing upon its welfare, especially where there is also a 
liberal growth of grass. On moors which have no “white ground,’’ where 
the soil is all black, and peaty, and also where the soil consists of hungry 
sandy gravel, the problem of sheep does not need to be solved. It settles 
itself, for grass will not thrive on such soils, and sheep cannot eat ling by 
itself for long without getting “ ling -sick,’’ and then they must be removed, 
or they will die. On such moors there will never be any inordinate number 
of sheep, for no more can permanently abide there than the scanty growth 
of herbage will support. But on the rich limestone hills, and where millstone 
grit abounds, the heather has a constant struggle with the grass for its 
very existence. If the sheep are concentrated in any one locality they 
will quickly exterminate the heather, and this may be seen on thousands 
of acres which now are green, but which formerly were all heather. A good 
farmer, who intends to pass his life on his farm, and honestly pay his way, 
will always take care so to stock his holding that the heather flourishes, 
and then the farm will be kept at its utmost productiveness, yet do no 
harm to the game. There are, however, far too many sheep farmers who, 
seeing their chance, will take a holding well supplied with heather and 
grass, and spoil both by putting on far too large a stock of sheep 
than the land can permanently carry; and then, having ruined both 
the pasturage and the shooting, ask for a reduction of rent, on the 
ground that there is not sufficient keep for their sheep, when, if their 
request is not granted, they throw up their farm and move elsewhere. 
When landlords and agents do not understand such wiles, they fall easy 
victims to imposition. To prevent any chance of concentrating too many 
sheep on any particular spot, a deaf ear should be turned to all entreaties 
for putting up barriers such as stone walls and wire fences, which are 
not necessary, although the tenant may make out a specious tale that his 
neighbour’s sheep come from afar to graze on some particular favourite 
spot. Sheep have their own especial ranges, which they do not exceed 
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