THE FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT OF GAME COVERTS. 



and compact, but also admit ol space for pruning and 

 layering two necessaries for the successful cultivation of 

 privet as underwood. 



The layering of privet, which is a simple though effectual 

 and inexpensive method of increase, is performed as follows : 

 cut off all the branches, except those intended for layering, 

 these being 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 inches 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 

 unless the true evergreen be used in the formation of game 

 coverts. The oval-leaved privet, though a most desirable 

 evergreen plant and well suited for ornamental 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 Laurestiiie are two ol 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 it is even, during severe winters, 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. 



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