Forming woodland rides 103 



Woodland rides should be not less than 18 feet wide, 

 and it would be no loss from a shooting or other point 

 of view to make them a few feet wider, and if a ditch be 

 made on either side it ought to be in addition to the 

 1 8 feet. The surface should be Grass, Moss, dwarf 

 Heather, Thymy turf, brown leaves, according to soil 

 and elevation and other conditions. A reason for this is 

 that such surfaces drink up and keep for their own use 

 the rainfall, which if it fell on bare surfaces might turn 

 our rides and paths into watercourses. In very hilly 

 ground we may have to cut rides out of the hill-side, of 

 shale or rough gravel, sand, or peat. In these conditions 

 or on any surface where we cannot find a protecting 

 carpet of vegetation of any kind we shall have to form 

 little dicks aslant the walk to carry off the storm-water. 

 Woodland drives should want no care beyond the annual 

 ' fagging ' which the gamekeepers do to remove Briers 

 and all interloping rank growth before shooting begins. 

 But in woods near the house, it may be worth while to 

 rough mow the rides now and then. 



Sunny spots in woods. Shade is one of the charms 

 of the woods in summer ; but where the shade is too 

 great for any of our plants or bushes, we have our 

 chance for sun-loving things in glades or open spaces, 

 so often seen in natural forests. These are to be sought 

 for the sake of various things game, sun, light and 

 shade, and the variety of tree form which is often seen 

 around such openings. The floor of these glades may 

 be of turf, Fern, Ivy, or any mixed plants of the woods, 

 and they are also good places for evergreen or other 

 covert, e.g. Savin, dwarf Mountain Pine, Partridge Berry, 

 Heaths either Cornish Heath or the more vigorous 

 forms of Heather and, if we can spare them, brilliant 



