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CHAPTER XL 



PLANTING UNDERWOOD AND GAME COVERT. 



As soon as there is sufficient moisture in the ground, 

 autumn planting should be proceeded with, and no 

 time should be lost after the middle of September for 

 planting in general, and especially game covert, of 

 evergreens as holly, yews, box, privet, laurel, rhodo- 

 dendrons, &c. 



When a plantation has ceased to grow game covert 

 properly, which all plantations and forests do in 

 course of time, if grown in masses, and the trees for 

 profitable purposes, they must either be renewed in 

 order to maintain their efficiency, or new ground taken 

 for the purpose. Failure is the general result of 

 planting amongst old trees, notwithstanding that the 

 space is quite open and clear of branches overhead. 

 It is not enough, on entering a plantation and finding 

 an open space, to conclude therefrom that trees or 

 shrubs planted in it will grow. It is quite necessary 

 that the space be clear and open, but that is not suffi- 

 cient to ensure the success of newly put in plants. 

 The roots of the surrounding trees, though distant, have 

 invariably taken full possession of the open area, and 

 thoroughly interwoven and exhausted it of every par- 

 ticle of plant-food within reach. 



