Food and Shelter for Game. 43 1 



especially in gardens of any considerable size. In this plan a 

 cross wall is added, both for the sake of shelter, and to afford a 

 proportionate length of wall for fruit trees. 

 S/iortgrove, Essex, 1834. 



Art. IV. On the Trees and Shrubs which are most suitable for Plant- 

 ing, to afford Food and Shelter for Game, and more especially for 

 the Pheasant. By Mr. James Munro. 



The filling up of old plantations with various sorts of evergreens 

 and of deciduous flowering shrubs, is now becoming generally 

 practised throughout the country ; and the chief object for 

 which this is intended is to produce a shelter for game, and more 

 especially for the pheasant. The planting of these undergrowths 

 is, however, like many other things, often performed without 

 regard to consequences or economy; while the chief aim ought, 

 in this case, to be a conjunction of the useful with the beautiful. 

 Certainly, there can be nothing better adapted for the purposes 

 of sheltering game than the common laurel, Portugal laurel, 

 rhododendron, holly, arbor vitae, &c, while these produce, at 

 the same time, an agreeable effect upon the forest scenery ; 

 which, without the aid of evergreens and other undergrowths, 

 is extremely monotonous. Still, however, while we endeavour 

 to produce both these effects, we should also have an eye to 

 something useful and economical. What avails it how well 

 soever game be provided with close and impenetrable coverts, 

 when the common means of sustenance are wanting within their 

 leafy domicile ? The birds are compelled by hunger to leave 

 behind " the umbrageous glade," and seek their food in the 

 fields of the farmers ; who, in some districts of the country where 

 pheasants are very plentiful, are compelled to seek redress for 

 the damages thus sustained. Such a course, on the part of a 

 tenant, though it is quite fair and reasonable, is a very disagree- 

 able alternative, and must prove destructive of that friendly in- 

 tercourse which ought to subsist between tenant and landlord. 

 To the true sportsman, too, such a state of things is altogether 

 incompatible with good taste ; the frequent migrations of the 

 pheasant from forest to field in quest of food, so far domesti- 

 cates the bird, that even those who can feel a pleasure in de- 

 priving it of life are bereft of half their enjoyment; for, so far 

 as what is termed sport is considered, they might as well take 

 their station behind the barn-yard wall, and shoot at the poultry 

 quietly feeding at the barn door. 



On these grounds, I confidently expect the cooperation of 

 both the sportsman and the economist, in my endeavour to 

 accomplish a means of providing pheasants with food, in woods 



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