THE WILD PHEASANT 205 



Setting much store by our wild pheas- 

 ants, we have of late been laying out an 

 odd wood here and there to ensure shelter 

 in winter. Rough stretches of ground, 

 of little value to the farmer, have been 

 carefully selected with some thought of 

 position, exposure, and water. A plan 

 of the last completed wood may not be 

 without some interest as showing one 

 notion of what an ideal covert for pheas- 

 ants should be, limited only by a strict 

 regard for economy. 



The wood shown in the diagram is 

 about 600 yards long by 400 broad, the 

 ground sloping gently to the south. En- 

 closed by dry stone walls on three sides, 

 the marginal wind-break is of great im- 

 portance; to ensure good shelter the 

 encircling belt consists of a double row 

 of the low-growing, wind-loving mountain 

 pine along the outside, protecting the four 

 close rows of the quick-growing Sitka 

 spruce, which are relied on to break the 

 force of every wind that blows. 



The main ride runs in curves from east 



