408 PROTECTION AGAINST PLANTS. 



distinguished at a distance by their darker green colour from 

 the paler and brandy mosses, Hypnum and Hylocomium, which 

 form a useful soil-covering in forests. They are chiefly found 

 in high forest, and especially in spruce woods, and do harm 

 by. fa vou ring excessive moisture in the ground and injuring 1 

 the germination of seedlings. The tufts should be turned 

 over and broken up. 



The branchy mosses that form the normal soil-covering in 

 coniferous woods (about 123 species) may become so thick, as 

 to render the soil too moist for the germination of naturally 

 fallen seed. Or they may be tall enough to overshade natural 

 seedlings. In such cases, the mossy covering should be 

 removed, so as to expose the mineral soil. 



3. Shadebearing Weeds. 



These are all woody plants. Alder-buckthorn (Rhamnns 

 Frangula, L.) is common throughout Europe on damp ground, 

 and chiefly in lowlands ; it produces many suckers, and is 

 spread much by birds which eat the berries. It is used for 

 gunpowder-charcoal. 



The common buckthorn (R. catharticus, L.) is a thorny 

 shrub with spreading roots and many suckers, found on 

 similar soil to the former, and along banks of streams. 



Both kinds are hosts of a fungus destructive to cereals 

 (p. 418). They may be dug up during cleanings. 



Dogwood (Cornus sanguined, L.), on fertile moist soils, 

 ascends to 2,600 feet in mountains, and sends out numerous 

 stool shoots. The wood is used for skewers, and was formerly 

 employed for arrows. 



Holly (Ilex Aqmfolium, L.), a large evergreen prickly shrub 

 or small tree, found chiefly on good damp loam or loamy sand : 

 it coppices well. Where it abounds it is possible to plant only 

 strong transplants between the holly bushes, and the latter 

 need constantly cutting back, until they are no longer 

 dangerous. Holly makes excellent hedges, but requires 

 plenty of humus. It is calciphobous like sweet-chestnut, and 

 attains a height of 80 40 feet in Britain, but on the Continent 

 chiefly a bushy undergrowth in forests. 



Holly (German, Hulst) was considered a holy or preservative 

 plant, preserving one from evil influences, hence its use in house 



