PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



The Butcher's Broom is a fine glaucous green shrub, 

 densely covered with sharp, prickly leaves, and invaluable 

 for planting in shady places indeed, in such positions it 

 seems to be quite at home. There it flowers and fruits freely 

 beneath half-standard rhododendrons where few other plants 

 could exist, far less succeed. The twigs of this shrub were 

 formerly used by butchers for sweeping their blocks ; hence 

 the English name. 



Some of the above plants, notably the St. John's Wort 

 and Gaultheria, may be considered as carpet plants, which, 

 in contradistinction to general underwood, may be classed 

 as evergreens, which, from their low, procumbent mode of 

 growth, are scarcely in the true sense of the word suited for 

 game coverts. To clearly define the difference would, how- 

 ever, be no easy matter, and, even were it possible to do so, 

 would in the end be productive of but little go$d, as the 

 habits of different plants vary so much that what is used 

 in one place for carpeting purposes might in another and 

 more favourable situation be equally valuable for game 

 covert. A good example of this will be found in the St. 

 John's Wort, which, when planted out and allowed to 

 ramble at will amongst bramble, privet, etc., forms a capital 

 covert ; whereas, when used in open, airy situations such 

 as alongside shrubbery walks soon forms a dense evergreen 

 carpet, of so compact a growth as to be almost impenetrable 

 even to ground game. 



In addition to the above-named plants, the following are 

 well adapted for giving shelter to game : Dogwood, Hazel 

 Elder, Arbutus, Cotoneaster of sorts, Juniper of sorts, 

 Pernettya mucronata, Eubus nutkanus, Taxits adpressa, 

 Photinia serrulata, Kalmia lati/olia, Garrya elliptica, etc. 

 These should be planted out in small groups the more valu- 

 able kinds in the most conspicuous position, such as along- 

 side or within view of woodland drives and shooting-roads. 



Protection from Babbits, etc. It may seem somewhat 

 absurd to speak of planting coverts, and then to protect 

 them from the depredations of game ; but that this is highly 

 necessary for the first two years, at least, is well known to 



all planters. Few of the shrubs treated of in this paper are 



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