THE NEW FORESTRY. ig 



According to our observations it does not, however, fruit so 

 freely in some parts of England as it does in Scotland, where 

 we have known it produce in great abundance. Is easily 

 propagated by cuttings of the shoots simply stuck in the soil. 



CRATAEGUS PYRACANTHA. A member of the hawthorn 

 family. A very abundant fruiter whenever the plant is allowed 

 to spread and straggle in its own way. This shrub beats the 

 hawthorn in productiveness, and the fruit hangs on the bush 

 all the winter, but birds are very fond of it and will strip 

 bushes growing close to dwelling houses as soon as the fruit 

 begins to colour. Planted in the open, it is a low-spreading 

 evergreen shrub and very hardy. 



COTONE ASTER. Three varieties of this shrub produce 

 berries in great abundance that last nearly through the winter, 

 and are much relished by pheasants. These are C. affinus, 

 C. frigid a, and C. microphylla. The two first are deciduous, 

 and much alike, and Mr. Harting, the accomplished naturalist 

 and sportsman, in his book, " The Rabbit," says the first-named 

 variety is every year laden with bunches of berries, and affords 

 plenty of food for pheasants. All the three should be planted 

 in abundance in the clumps and along drives. 



COMMON BARBERRY. In moist localities in Scotland this 

 shrub sets the wood ablaze in autumn with its brilliant scarlet 

 berries, which are produced in great abundance and fall on to 

 the ground when quite ripe. 



GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS. These are both natives 

 of Britain, and although not commonly planted in coverts, 

 succeed perfectly well and fruit freely, although, owing to the 

 bushes not being pruned or cared for, the fruit becomes small. 

 We have known bushes left in cottage gardens after the 

 cottages were pulled down and the site planted, continue to live 

 and bear for many years afterwards. The fruit ripens just at 

 the season when the young pheasants begin to forage for 

 themselves, and is greedily eaten. The free-bearing sorts and 

 vigorous growers, like the Warrington gooseberry and common 

 black and red currants, should be planted. 



The above list does not exhaust the number, but it includes 

 the best and such as are sure to succeed. It is not suggested 

 that such subjects should be planted thinly here and there in 

 the aimless way hitherto practised, but in open spaces left for 

 the purpose in dense woods, as shown in the diagram, where 

 they will get light and air and grow and fruit freely. Spots 

 from half a rood to half an acre may be left, and if these are 

 planted or sown thickly at the outset, keeping the taller species 



