RETORT ON TREES NOT LIABLE TO BE DESTROYED BY RABBITS. 451 



Sixth, The snowberry is a beautiful plant, especially in winter, 

 with its wax -like balls richly hanging from the extremities of 

 the spraying branches. The injuries which this plant receives 

 from rabbits are so slight as to entitle it to a place amongst those 

 acknowledged as rabbit-proof plants. 



Seventh, The spurge laurel is a beautiful plant, not only on 

 account of its flowers, but specially for its foliage. It deserves 

 more extensive planting in all demesnes where rabbits, &c, are 

 numerous. Like the elder, it appears as if no animal would eat 

 or even touch it. Growing in the midst of a large head of 

 rabbits, it is perfectly free from injury in all its parts, and may 

 safely be planted where rabbits are numerous. 



Eighth, The rhododendron is in point of safety ecpial to the 

 spurge laurel ; very seldom is a branch nipped off, and still more 

 seldom is its bark injured or a leaf wholly or even partially eaten. 



Ninth, The periwinkle, of which there are several varieties, all 

 beautiful and much to be admired, appear almost entirely exempt 

 from injuries by rabbits. 



Tenth, The azaleas are almost entirely exempt from injuries, 

 and it does not appear that there is any important difference as 

 to the variety. I have scarcely ever seen a twig eaten off by them 

 either in summer or in winter, and never saw any of the stems 

 peeled or the bark in any way injured. 



Unfortunately, the preceding list excludes many of our best 

 and most admired shrubs, including the bay laurel, Portugal 

 laurel, sweet bay, yews, &c. These, with many others, if planted 

 without proper protection, might as well not be planted, as their 

 destruction is inevitable. 



The birch is not greatly liable to sustain injury from rabbits, 

 except in the early part of summer, when they eat the leaves off 

 the lower branches. 



The willow is a plant which rabbits are in general fond of ; 

 they eat the shoots at all seasons, and seize Tipon the bark in 

 winter. 



The poplar comprises many varieties, and those I have found 

 most liable to be eaten are as follows, and in the order given : 

 — 1st, The black poplar ; 2d, The black Italian ; and 3d, The 

 aspen. Those of which the rabbits are least fond are also given 

 in the order of dislike : — 1st, The Abele poplar ; 2d, The balsam 

 poplar ; and 3d, The Lombard y. Eabbits are by no means fond 

 of any varieties of the poplar, but seem to prefer the black 

 and have a strong aversion to the Abele, and indeed to all hoary- 

 leaved plants. 



The mountain ash suffers a little in the early part of the sea- 

 son by having its young shoots topped, and in severe winter 

 weather the young trees are occasionally barked ; but it is a tree 

 which rabbits are by no means fond of, either leaf, branch, or bark. 



