HEATHER BURNING 
year. It is therefore very necessary for the owner of a moor to encourage 
the growth of this Calluna vulgaris to the utmost capacity of the ground, 
and the only way to do this is by judiciously burning the heather. 
It is only in recent years that on the majority of moors heather burning 
has been properly looked after, and indeed at the present time there are 
many thousands of acres of old heather in England and Scotland which, 
from the grouse and the sheep -feeding point of view, would be far better 
burnt. 
It is generally conceded that from one -twelfth to one-fifteenth of a moor 
should be burnt each year, and to get over this extent of ground on a big 
moor during the few days in spring when the weather is favourable is a 
very difficult job. 
Heather can be burned at all times of the year in England. In Wales it 
is customary to burn in the spring, whilst in Scotland, by Statute, heather 
burning can only be carried out between November 1 and April 10 ; 
though on high wet moors an extension to April 28 can be obtained. 
The winter season gives so few opportunities for successful burning 
that the Grouse Committee invited the opinion of English, Scottish and 
Welsh landlords, keepers, and farmers for or against the practice of 
burning in autumn. 
The results are summarized on page 405 of the Report by Lord Lovat 
as follows ; 
(1) That in the interests of sheep and grouse autumn burning is 
advisable on all moors. 
(2) That it is necessary on large moors. 
(3) That it is the only possible method of getting high ground, with 
a northern exposure, into a proper rotation of heather crop. 
The Committee are further of opinion that 
(4) In the north of England the evidence goes to show that, whether 
springing from the root or from the seed, the growth of heather 
following autumn or spring burning is identical. 
(5) That on the more northern moors the heather is probably slightly 
slower in reaching maturity after autumn burning, especially on 
shallow peat or hard ground. 
(6) That while there is a certain prejudice, especially amongst older 
keepers, against autumn burning, this prejudice does not appear 
to be founded on substantial grounds. The majority of those who 
expressed themselves as opposed to autumn burning were found, 
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