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find a situation with a small stream running through it, 

 a very important factor is gained, as although foxes 

 prefer to wander some distance for their food, they 

 like to have water close at hand. The slope of a hill 

 facing south is ideal, but not essential if there is good 

 protection from north and east winds. 



The first species of covert to be discussed shall be 

 gorse, as I consider that gives the dryest and warmest 

 lair for foxes, although it has the disadvantage of 

 continual movement when exposed to the wind. Gorse 

 requires a dry soil, and if there is the slightest sign of 

 wet, trenches from eighteen inches to two feet deep 

 should be dug as a preliminary. The ground should be 

 ploughed shallow, about five inches, early in the winter 

 and left to mellow with frost. If the field happens 

 to be grass it would be best to use a skimming plough 

 and remove the turf altogether. When the dry weather 

 comes in spring the ground must be rolled and 

 harrowed continuously — never touched when wet — 

 until the soil is as fine as an onion bed. The seed can 

 be drilled with an ordinary turnip drill and the best 

 time is either the last week in April or first week in May. 

 The drills should be from fifteen to eighteen inches 

 apart so that there is room to hoe in between without 

 disturbing the plants. It is of the utmost importance 

 to the quick growth of gorse that it should be kept 

 clean and free from weeds for the first two years, 

 after that it will take care of itself. When sowing is 

 completed the ground should be well rolled with a light 

 roller, and after that is finished the seeds should be no 

 deeper than an inch and a half below the surface. 

 Perhaps it would be as well to add that should the soil, 

 owing to its nature and dry weather, be loose to any 

 depth, it should be well rolled before sowing in order 



