EVERGREEN COVERT, 



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EVERGREEN COVERT. 



There is a shrub in bloom in the country themselves, and give a splendour of colour in 



round London now which is very beautiful summer that no man's planting could surpass, 



as an evergreen covert plant, being hardy in Box.— No more useful evergreen covert 



winter, fine in colour, and of vigorous con- than this exists for chalky and light soils, 



stitution. It is "Cunningham's White," an old growing where it would be hard to establish 



Rhododendron which, although called white, covert from foreign shrubs. Few who only 



is a rosy-lilac colour in bud. It is one of the see Box weary and drawn in the shrubbery 



best plants we know for growing in any cold, have any idea of its beauty massed on an open 



or rough, or even clay soil, forming excellent down. As an evergreen group on a hot and 



covert — far better, we think, than the pontic poor bluff in a wood it would be fine in effect 



Rhododendron, and having also the advantage and an excellent and warm covert. Happily, 



that it can be bought on its natural root in this native evergreen loves our poorest and 



some nurseries in the Midland counties. It is driest soils, of which there is such a vast area 



easily increased, and grows in any soil. I have in the southern counties. Box will thrive on 



had a group of it in good health in clay (part chalky wastes where no other shrub or tree 



of a dug-out foundation of a building) for over appears, and, most fortunately, there is some- 



a dozen years ; it never turns a leaf in any frost thing distasteful in it to rabbits, which enables 



and is a close and excellent covert. There is it to be let alone in places most infested by 



nothing on which more loose talk is indulged them. 



than on the matter of covert plants. One The Evergreen Barberry (Berberis Aqui- 



famous sportsman tells people to put Privet folium). — This is a very pretty shrub and a 



where they want covert near water — a most good, free grower in many peaty, open soils, 



weedy and evil-smelling shrub, besides being but seems to stick and do nothing in certain 



bad covert, its rapid growth being its only re- heavy soils. As, however, these occur in cer- 



commendation. It is a mistake to use a weedy tain parts of the country only, it may be in- 



bush merely because it grows quickly. Most eluded among the very best shrubs for green 



hardy shrubs grow quick enough, and some of covert where it grows freely. There are vari- 



the most rampant growths are the soonest to ous forms of the plant, which is widely dis- 



go back. On the whole, the best covert plant, tributed along the Pacific Coast of America, 



especially for woods near the house, are the and it is important not to get small growing 



native and other hardy evergreens. In the forms. 



choice of such plants, their beauty should not The " Sweet Bay," or True Laurel 



be overlooked, and things of offensive odour (Laurus nobilis). — I had never seen this used 



and other bad qualities like the Privet should as covert, but having many bushes of it to 



be rejected. Rhododendrons are often planted, spare I tried it in old woodland, and was 



but it is the common pontic kind, which, used pleased to see how well it did and how well it 



as a stock, ends by killing the good kinds graft- looked, being much more dense in growth 



ed on it. If, however, we take to layering our than the common or Cherry Laurel. It is also 



brilliant kinds of hardy Rhododendrons, then very cheery in colour in the winter season and 



we shall have such underwood beauty as no not so rampant, and it increases very freely 



garden can rival. It is not necessary to put the when pulled to pieces. It is easy to be had 



finer and hardier Rhododendrons, raised most- in southern nurseries, and should be used only 



ly from the hardy North American kinds, on in southern and seashore districts where it 



the somewhat tender ponticum, and, if nursery- thrives so well. Even if not generally used 



men will not layer them, everyone who has a as covert it can be made to form very pretty 



good kind should layer it for himself wherever groups in woods. 



the plant grows. Some of the best nurseries Furze. — This is among the best and the 



now have already good stocks of the finer most easily raised of all evergreen covert plants, 



kinds on their own roots, and are preparing In new plantations, where we wire to keep out 



more. These in cool woods would almost layer rabbits, it is a good plan to scatter the seed of 



