264 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



Groups of neglected native shrubs might 

 be planted here and there, and native 

 trees not often planted in the usual mix- 

 tures, such as theAspen and Field Maple, 

 may be brought into the wood-fold. In 

 warm and sea-shore districts not often 

 stricken by severe frost, we may have 

 groups of Pampas Grass, New Zealand 

 Flax, and hardy Bamboo here and there, 

 but generally through the land it is bet- 

 ter to trust to good native things. And, 

 if we go beyond these, let us take care 

 that the shrubs are as hardy as any of our 

 own bushes; it is easy to find them in 

 the shape of hardy Azaleas and Rhodo- 

 dendrons, and the beautiful Mountain 

 Laurel (Kalmici), where the soil is not 

 against them. Woodland rides should 

 be not less than 18 feet wide, and it 

 would be no loss from a shooting or 

 any other point of view to make them 

 a few feet more ; if a ditch must be 

 made on either side to get rid of water, 

 it ought to be in addition to the 1 8 feet. 

 Their surface should be of the things 

 of the wood — Grass, Moss, dwarf Hea- 

 ther, Thymy turf, brown leaves — ac- 

 cording to soil and elevation and other 

 conditions. Among other reasons for 

 this is the fact that such surfaces drink 

 up and keep for use the water that falls, 

 whereas if it falls on bare surfaces our 

 drives and paths may become water- 

 courses. In very hilly ground we may 

 have to cut rides out of the hillside, and 

 make our drive of shale or rough gravel, 

 sand, or peat. In these, or on any surface 

 where we cannot find a protecting carpet 

 of vegetation of any kind, we may have 

 to form little hollows skew-wise across 

 the walk so as to throw the storm-water 



aside. Woodland drives should want no 

 care beyond the annual" fagging" which 

 the gamekeepers do to remove Briars 

 and all interloping rank growth before 

 shooting begins. But in woods of any 

 beauty coming near the house, it may 

 be worth while to rough mow them now 

 and then. 



Sunny Spots in Woods. — Shade is 

 one of the summer charms of the woods ; 

 but in case the shade is too great for any 

 of our plants or bushes, we have a chance 

 for sun-lovers in glades or open spaces, 

 like those so often seen in natural for- 

 ests. These are to be sought now and 

 i then in our woods for the sake of various 

 things — game, sun, light and shade, and 

 the variety of tree form which is often 

 seen around such openings. The floor 

 of these glades may be of turf, Fern, Ivy, 

 or any mixed plants of the woods, and 

 they give us also a good place for ever- 

 green or other covert : — Savin, dwarf 

 MountainPine,PartridgeBerry, Heaths, 

 either Cornish Heath or the more vigo- 

 rous forms of Heather, and, if we can 

 spare them, brilliant bushes like Azaleas. 

 Bushes needing sun and warmth might 

 be grouped in such spots ; and in districts 

 where the cold does not strike hard, as 

 in a great length of the shore-lands of 

 our islands, other exotics might be tried, 

 j But they should be chosen with care, and 

 I only sought for some distinct quality, 

 j Incidents of the wood itself will often 

 I offer the best places for our sunny spots, 

 and there might be small openings, too, 

 in shade, suggested often by wood plants 

 like Gerard's well-named Stub wort (Ox- 

 alis) and Primroses. As trees take the 

 place of underwood there is more need 



