1 82 Practical Forestry 



pheasants, and in their native country are not unfrequently 

 used as food. 



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, 

 however, be no easy matter, and, even were it possible to 

 do so, would in the end be productive of but little good, 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 along- 

 side shrubbery walks it soon forms a dense evergreen car- 

 pet, 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, Per- 

 nettya mucranata, Eubus nutkanus, Taxus adpressa, Pholinia 

 serrulata, Kalmia latifolia, Oarrya elliptica, etc. These 

 should be planted out in small groups the more valuable 

 kinds in the most conspicuous position, such as alongside or 

 within view of woodland drives and shooting-roads. 



Protection from Rabbits, 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 





