176 PHEASANTS 



Copsewood or natural growth of 

 heather, bramble and whin — natural, 

 please, for if these common natives do 

 not appear on their own account, there is 

 sure to be good reason for their absence, 

 and little profit in trying to introduce 

 them — make as good under-cover as can be 

 desired, and, generally speaking, where 

 they will not do the best substitutes will 

 be found among the various free-seeding 

 grasses, privets, snow-berries, or some of 

 the varieties of roses, spiraeas, and other 

 shrubs given in the list at the end of the 

 chapter. 



Many plants are called shade-bearers, 

 but the term is rather a misnomer, for 

 there is practically nothing that will take 

 hold, flourish, and spread without light 

 under the drip of the trees ; the rhododen- 

 drons perhaps come first in this respect, 

 wherein lies their chief claim to merit, 

 but even they will only maintain their 

 hold if planted before the shade becomes 

 dense, and have little chance of succeeding 

 when first planted under shade and drip. 



