THE FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GAME COVERTS. 217 
whole ground, as is not unfrequently done, plant in small clumps, 
and these at wide distances apart, which will not only allow the 
privet to grow more healthy and compact, but also admit of space for 
pruning and layering—two necessaries tor the successful cultivation 
of privet as underwood. 
The layering of privet, which is a simple though effectual and 
inexpensive method of increase, is performed as follows :—cut off 
all the branches, except those intended for layering, these being laid 
flat on the ground equidistant around the main stem or root and 
kept fast by hooked pegs driven firmly down, A spadeful or two 
of soil should then be placed on the top of each peg, which will 
partly exclude air and hasten the formation of roots. The pegs 
may be made of any refuse branches—hard wood, such as ash 
or oak, being preferable—about 10 inches in length, one end 
being hooked for holding the branch in position, and the other 
sharply pointed for ease in driving. As several forms of privet have 
crept into circulation of late, it is well to be sure that none unless 
the true evergreen be used in the formation of game coverts. The 
ovalleaved privet, though a most desirable evergreen plant and 
well-suited for ornamental hedges, is from the too luxuriant growth 
and upright form hardly to be commended for underwood, at least 
its merits in this respect are inferior to those of the common form. 
Aucuba Japonica and the laurustinus are two of our handsomest 
evergreen shrubs, but, unlike those already described, they will not 
succeed in the densest shade. In open places or alongside woodland 
drives they thrive well, and are excellent for variety and contrast. 
The laurustinus cannot, however, be considered as perfectly hardy 
in this country, for even in our maritime situation here, where the 
air is to some extent ameliorated, it suffers severely from frost, and 
is even, during severe winters, killed completely to the ground. It, 
however, springs very freely from the root, and in a few years quite 
regains its original size and luxuriance. A _ beautiful hedge of 
laurustinus in our home nursery was killed during the severe 
winter of 1881-82. It was cut over in the following spring, and 
is now a dense compact fence of nearly four feet in height. 
From their bushy, well furnished habit of growth both the 
above plants are excellent as game covert, more especially around 
the outskirts of woods and plantations. They should be allowed 
plenty of room for development of both root and_ branch, 
though they may, when necessary, be pruned with the greatest 
advantage. 
