THE FOX 87 



about four feet apart. This, of course, has to be 

 done after the seeds have been sown. If it is 

 intended to leave the covert for more than two 

 years, it is worth while to plant blackberry roots 

 at the foot of every other stick — that is supposing 

 it possible to obtain them. The blackberry brier 

 grows very quickly, is not easily choked with 

 grass, and makes excellent lying for a fox. 



In those countries where the hunt has the 

 management of the coverts, it would be a good 

 plan if they hired a few acres as a nursery for 

 gorse, sowing a small quantity every year. Young 

 gorse plants cannot be bought, but they are very 

 easily grown, and if the hunt had always a stock 

 of three-year-olds, they would find them very 

 useful in filling up bare places in coverts which 

 did not require entirely renewing. 



The subject of coverts is one of great interest 

 to every one connected with fox-hunting ; but I 

 have already written more than I intended, and 

 am afraid my details may bore you. Trees can 

 hardly be called coverts, though in some districts 

 they are the most likely places to look for a fox. 

 I believe that where this is the case you will find 

 the soU of a damp, spongy nature, and the foxes 



