Game Coverts : their Formation and Management 179 



two necessaries for the successful cultivation of privet as 

 underwood. 



The layering of privet, which is a simple and inexpensive 

 though effectual method of increase, is performed as fol- 

 lows : Cut off all the branches, except those intended for 

 layering, which are then laid flat on the ground equidistant 

 around the main stem or root and kept fast by hooked pegs 

 driven firmly down. A spadeful or two of soil should then 

 be placed on the top of each peg, which will partly exclude 

 air and hasten the formation of roots. The pegs may be 

 made of any refuse branches hard wood, such as ash or 

 oak, being preferable about 10 ins. in length, one end 

 being hooked for holding the branches in position, and the 

 other sharply pointed for ease in driving. As several forms 

 of privet have crept into circulation of late, it is well to be 

 sure that none but the true evergreen are used in the forma- 

 tion of game coverts. The oval-leaved privet, though a 

 most desirable evergreen plant and well suited for orna- 

 mental hedges, is from its too luxuriant growth and upright 

 form hardly to be commended for underwood ; at least, its 

 merits in this respect are inferior to those of the common 

 form. 



Aucuba Japonica and the Laurustinus are two of our 

 handsomest evergreen shrubs, but, unlike those already 

 described, they will not succeed in the densest shade. In 

 open places or along woodland drives they thrive well, and 

 are excellent for variety and contrast. The laurustinus 

 cannot, however, be considered as perfectly hardy in this 

 country, for even in maritime situations where the air is to 

 some extent ameliorated, it suffers severely from frost, and 

 during severe winters it is even killed completely to the 

 ground. It, however, springs very freely from the root, and 

 in a few years quite regains its original size and luxuriance. 

 From their bushy, well-furnished habit of growth both the 

 above plants are excellent as game covert, more especially 

 around the outskirts of woods and plantations. They should 

 be allowed plenty of room for development of both root 

 and branch, though they may, when necessary, be pruned 

 with the greatest advantage. 



