288 PLANTS PROPER FOR UNDERWOOD, 



with the foot. After being sufficiently rooted, the 

 young plants may have their communication with the 

 parent removed, by cutting away the part of the 

 branches laid down which joins them. As a de- 

 fence against poachers, however, it will be prudent 

 to let this remain, as it forms a snare, that, if set in 

 a sufficient number of places, will render the forest 

 impassable from sunset till broad day light return. 

 For the branches or shoots being pegged down as 

 before described, the parts of them not covered 

 with earth will be like the springs of so many 

 mole traps ; and to walk among them at night, 

 without being in danger of falling at every step, is 

 obviously impossible. There is scarce any sort of 

 tree or shrub which may not be propagated by layers 

 as easily as the oak or the hazel, and all who wish 

 to make their plantations secure haunts for game, 

 would do well to reduce this hint to practice on an 

 extensive scale. 



The wild Raspberry forms no despicable cover. 

 The hare seems partial to it in making choice of a lair, 

 and in the season of its fruit, it furnishes sustenance 

 for a variety of birds. Nothing that can be planted 

 is more hardy, or comes sooner to perfection, than 

 the wild rasp, and it thrives even where the branch- 

 es and foliage above it are so thick as to exclude 



3 



