146 FOXES AT HOME. 



plants ran up like corn, and the second year, 

 though holding foxes, it was almost impossible 

 for the hounds to draw, and very tiring for them. 

 A huntsman does not like to be left on foot in 

 the middle of a dense jungle, up to his waist, 

 when the hounds go away with a good fox, and 

 this might easily happen if he had to dismount 

 to try to induce them to face a too thickly sown 

 three-year old gorse. This covert held splen- 

 didly for five or six years and then was 

 completely killed by a heavy fall of snow, the 

 rabbits, of which there were many about, 

 absolutely declining to allow the young shoots 

 to grow again. 



April is the best month to plant the seeds in, 

 and no manure is necessary, though, if the 

 ground is very poor, some artificial top dressing, 

 such as superphosphate of lime, after the seeds 

 have started will help ihem along. 



Artificial coverts should be of sufficient size 

 to admit of a part being burnt about every 

 eight years or so, or even more frequently — it 

 depends on the soil and the consequent rapidity 

 of growth of the plant. Never cut the gorse, it 

 bleeds. Burn it; leave the naked stems to 

 shelter and protect the young shoots, and keep 



