i8o Practical Forestry 



Mahonia aquifolia, Berberis Darwinii and B. 

 Stenophylla are frequently recommended as covert plants 

 and for using in similar situations to those favoured by the 

 laurel and box. Along the margins of plantations or in 

 very open places they may and do succeed, but from prac- 

 tical experience of these plants we find them next to useless 

 as underwood in shady positions. Where many thousands 

 of covert plants are used annually, we have entirely dis- 

 carded them from use except in the most open situations. 

 These plants are highly ornamental, both in foliage and 

 flower ; produce berries which are much sought after by 

 game, are quite hardy, and not at all fastidious about soil 

 qualities which specially recommend them for extensive use 

 in positions at all suited for their growth. 



The barberry, more especially when planted out in rich 

 soil, and when at all confined, is apt to lose the compact, 

 branchy nature so recognizable a feature of the plant when 

 allowed ample room in the nursery border, and to assume a 

 more upright habit of growth, which is anything but desir- 

 able in underwood generally. To check this and keep the 

 plant in bounds, frequent light prunings will have to be 

 resorted to, and this had best be effected during dull, damp 

 weather, as the barberry is not a good subject for the 

 pruning shears. Neither the barberry nor mahonia are 

 adapted for planting in very high or exposed situations at 

 least where such has been tried the results have been any- 

 thing but satisfactory, the plants soon presenting a 

 miserable, half-starved appearance. 



Both plants are readily propagated the mahonia, when 

 planted in loose soil and an open situation, soon covering 

 a considerable space of ground, the running roots being 

 especially active under such circumstances. 



Rhododendron ponticum, although useful in an orna- 

 mental point of view, cannot be considered a first-class 

 plant for game shelter. It has, however, several good quali- 

 ties which recommend it for underwood, such as ease of cul- 

 ture, dwarf-spreading habit, and immunity from the attacks 

 of game indeed, in this latter respect, it is not equalled by 

 any other plant, if we except one or two species of Daphne. 



