- Although this type of cover ‘is most important for quails, it is 
also used by other kinds of game, including the field-inhabiting 
Hungarian partridge. Very small and isolated cover areas may not 
always be used but dense, tangled cover areas, not too far apart, 
are more important than one or two large thickets. Brushy areas 
that are too thin may become good cover if burnings and grazing 
are prevented, or where interplanted with evergreens or other 
shrubs. Brush piles, standing corn and grain plantings for food 
patches may also be provided to supplement existing cover. 
The common trees and shrubs most useful for game pro- 
tection and food in Illinois include black locust, willows, rines, 
spruces, mulberries, haws, plums, wild grapes, wild roses, wild 
honeysuckle, blackberries, raspberries, hazel and buckbrush. 
Mulberries and most of the shrubs also produce attractive summer 
or autumn food. Many of these can be secured locally by going 
to the wooded areas for them. The forestry section of the 
Tllinois Natural History Survey will advise as to sources of rea- 
sonably priced tree planting stock. 
Food.—Food patches should be located not more than one 
hundred yards from good cover, and for best results should be at 
least one-quarter to one-half acre in extent. kLxperiments at 
the University of Wisconsin indicate that food patches should 
contain two types of grains with respect to the ability to stand 
up during the winter. (1) Stiff-stemmed varieties including 
wheatland milo, kalo sorghum, feterita, kaffir corn and field corn 
—_—> 
or sweet corn; (2) Grains which lodge under snow but last over 
winter and provide food in early spring. The cane sorghuns, 
especially Black Amber and Red Amber, are outstanding in this 
respect. These grains are planted from May 15 to June 15 
-oe ye 
