Evergreen covert 91 



put them here and there in copses. They are of all 

 things the most easy to increase, the young shoots pulled 

 off wall or tree rapidly rooting in moist earth. The Ivy 

 is among our best native evergreens, as, after carpeting 

 the wood and clothing the tree-stems, it takes the tree 

 form, and is as good an evergreen as any. 



The Great Partridge Berry {Gaultheria Shallon). A 

 valuable covert bush, difficult to obtain in many nurseries 

 owing to the small demand for it. It will thrive in 

 ordinary soils and runs about apace in wet peaty places. 

 In Scotland it seems to be better known than in the 

 south, for it has been largely planted there for covert, 

 as at Balmoral. It is one of the shrubs that will thrive 

 in the shade of Pine plantations, and is in all ways 

 excellent. 



The Cherry and Portugal Laurels. The Cherry Laurel 

 (usually, but wrongly, called the Laurel) is, perhaps, 

 more used than any other bush, but has certain defects, 

 being not hardy in severe winters even in Ireland, and 

 also, it is too vigorous for underwood covert, and when 

 chopped back, as it very frequently has to be, it is ugly. 

 Some of the newer forms, however, are hardy, especially 

 that from the Shipka Pass ; and its beauty is best seen 

 in a wood allowed to grow in its own natural way. In 

 some southern and mild districts the Portugal Laurel 

 and some of its handsome forms are very free-growing, 

 but in cold and inland districts they are apt to be cut 

 down in hard winters. They are so free and handsome 

 in the south and west, however, that they may be used 

 with good effect. 



Yew grows well in the shade, and gives warm covert, 

 but should only be put in the interior of woods owing 

 to its poisonous nature, and the woods should be fenced 



