46 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



As the subject of making coverts is one of 

 much interest to the sportsman, I shall say a 

 few words on the different methods of employing 

 land for this purpose. 



A fine gorse covert is a thing by no means so 

 easily acquired as some people are inclined to 

 imagine. In the first place, great attention is 

 necessary in the preparation of the ground. What- 

 ever portion you may think of dcAoting to this 

 purpose should be trenched all over to a con- 

 siderable depth (say 18 inches, or at the very 

 least 14). You should be exceedingly particular 

 in the choice of seed, as there is much sold of a 

 very inferior quality. 



I once remember a rather amusing circumstance 

 occurring to a gentleman, who took it into his 

 head all at once to make a chain of gorse coverts 

 on his estates ; he spared neither trouble or ex- 

 pense, the ground was carefully dug and trenched, 

 and in every way properly cleaned, and the 

 tenacious roots of that odious weed, the couch 

 grass, having been eradicated, ahundance of gorse 

 and broom seed zvas soivn cdl over it, but to the 

 surprise of every one, none of the seed took 

 root, and at the time the young plants should 

 have made their appearance, nothing was visible 

 but weeds. This however was not very wonderful, 

 as it turned out, for either in a mischievous frolic, 



