84 FOX-HUNTING 



south-west. Round the outer edge I would have 

 the double row of Austrian pines, and within that 

 a belt, fifteen yards wide, of whitethorn and 

 privet — this, as I have said, to be layered when 

 it is about six feet high and thereafter topped 

 every year ; the remainder to be divided into 

 four parts with rides of no greater width than 

 four yards, two quarters to be planted with black- 

 thorn and the other two sown with gorse. This 

 allows of one quarter being cut down every 

 third year, which is necessary to prevent the 

 covert from becoming too hollow at bottom. 

 The blackthorn should be planted three or four 

 feet apart and kept free from weeds for the first 

 year. When expense is no object the ground 

 intended for blackthorn should be double-dug, 

 that is taking two spits deep and putting the 

 top soil below : this enables the roots to take a 

 firm hold where they will find plenty of moisture 

 and are independent of dry weather. Some 

 people advise planting in the autumn and others 

 in the spring, though I prefer the ground dug 

 in the autumn and planted in the spring. 



The ground you intend for gorse should be 

 ploughed shallow in the autumn and left through 



