AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 177 



we are almost entirely dependent on artificial gorse 

 coverts, and the practice when laying out a new 

 covert has almost invariably been to plough up the 

 land and take a crop of oats off it, putting in the 

 gorse seeds, in the same manner that grass seeds are 

 sown, with the oats. This plan, while it prepares the 

 land for the gorse, has the advantage of bringing 

 something in to pay for the cost of what is often a 

 very expensive undertaking. In light land it succeeds 

 very well, but where it is of extra good quality I have 

 known the natural grasses to reappear and fairly beat 

 the gorse. 



In the most successful of our coverts the seed has 

 been sown broadcast ; some recommend sowing in 

 broad drills, but a great authority has rather con- 

 demned this fashion, as it leaves trenches in which 

 foxes are liable to be chopped, though I cannot say I 

 am able to call to mind an instance of this. 



When the gorse is fairly established in good soil it 

 grows with great rapidity — far more quickly than it 

 does on the light land to which it seems more suited 

 and where it sows itself and takes root easily. For 

 this reason it is impossible to lay down any rule as 

 to the length of time a covert will last in a holding 

 condition before it requires cutting. That can only be 

 ascertained by close inspection ; that inspection should 

 be made in the first days of March, and followed as 

 quickly as possible by action whatever course is 

 adopted. 



The ideal gorse covert is always said to be one large 

 enough to admit of half being cut down while the 

 other half is holding ; but where practicable I would 



Hounds, Gentlemen Please. 13 



