AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 175 



vegetation, I saw nothing comparable to the effect 

 produced on our landscape" by gorse and heather in 

 blossom ? And, as a traveller in many lands, I can 

 fully endorse his opinion. My gorse, however, had 

 grown very tall and hollow, and the stems of the 

 bushes were bare for several feet from the roots. 

 There was no bottom in it, no under-covert ; never- 

 theless, when hounds paid their first visit last season, 

 it held a leash of foxes. After that it was always 

 drawn blank, for, though frequented by foxes, they 

 must have experienced a feeling of insecurity, and 

 the earth-stopper's visit was invariably sufficient notice 

 to quit. So the edict went forth, the covert was cut 

 down, or in some parts burned, and though thick 

 bunches of tender gorse are now sprouting at the 

 roots of the old plants, it will, I fear, be two years 

 ere the note of a hound can be heard in it again. 

 But, Phoenix-like, it will rise from its ashes, and, with 

 a new addition to its size already in growth, it is to 

 be hoped that foxes will always seek a shelter in this 

 favourite spot, and never again be found wanting 

 as long as gorse is in blossom, and osculation in 

 fashion. 



In planting gorse coverts, when it is practicable to 

 do so they should, of course, be made large enough 

 to enable one half to be cut down at a time, so as to 

 have always a covert standing. Three acres of strong 

 young gorse take a lot of drawing, and in the be- 

 ginning of winter will be found almost impregnable 

 if the gorse seed has been very thickly sown. The 

 thickly sown covert, however, does not last long, for 

 the plants have not room to spread, and the stems 



