84 Wood and covert from seed 



some part was, in fact, already partly planted with little 

 forest trees, when I scattered the seed broadcast over 

 the field. The field was wired and rabbits kept out, and 

 after five or six years the effect of the Gorse, with the 

 young Pines and Larch growing up and standing a little 

 above it, was good. The warm colour of Gorse as a 

 covert in winter is pleasant. Where is there another 

 shrub that does so much for us ? In old woods it has 

 less chance owing to the rabbits and partly to shade. 

 On railway banks, or bleak, dry, 'brashy' places, it 

 thrives and looks at home. Where in clearing fences 

 or old fields a difference of level often occurs the result 

 of ages of ploughing it is a good plan to sow Furze on 

 the little rough terraces. There would be no particular 

 advantage in seeking this Furze treasure where the 

 bush abounds, as in many parts of Ireland, Cornwall, 

 and Devon ; but where it is not common it is one of the 

 best covert bushes one could raise. 



As to sowing among young forest trees, I simply take 

 advantage of the spaces between them, and, instead of 

 the Furze being a hindrance to the young trees, it is 

 a gain, inasmuch as the Furze thickly planted is a soil- 

 maker, its leaves falling thickly, and the rapid-growing 

 Pines, closely planted, as they ought always to be, will, 

 after some years, get clean above it and finally get the 

 field to themselves. In making the best offences, the live 

 fence, Furze seed scattered along the banks comes up 

 very soon ; it looks very beautiful in such places, and 

 helps to make the fence a more sheltering, dividing line. 

 As so many are particular about the time they sow or 

 plant anything, I may say that there is nothing to be 

 gained by sowing such seeds early. A very good time 

 is in April, when the nightingale comes, May, or early 



