In giving a list of the best evergreen shrubs for covert purposes, I would call attention particularly to the merits of laurel, box, privet, laurustinus, rhododendron, holly and yew, as these have been very extensively used for underwood, and with the best possible results. As to which of the above shrubs should receive pre-eminence as an ornamental covert plant I cannot decide, each having some peculiar merit rendering it valuable in its own particular place. We will for the present, however, consider all alike in this respect, and briefly describe the value of each separately, beginning with the laurel. The =Common= and =Colchic= laurels are amongst our best shrubs for underwood, and should be planted extensively; they are of free growth, bear cutting and pruning well, and thrive under the shade and drip of other trees. For covert planting the Colchic is perhaps preferable to the normal form, as it is of a more dense and procumbent habit, perfectly hardy, and less liable to injury from hares and rabbits. The common laurel requires frequent and heavy pruning to keep it in bounds, as, if allowed to ramble at will, it soon becomes bare near the ground, and useless either as game covert or ornament. Some years ago we layered a great number of this plant that had through neglect become useless for the purpose intended, many being from 12 ft. to over 20 ft. in height, with simply a tuft of foliage near the top. In layering, the stems were sawn half through near the ground, to assist in bending, and laid flat on their sides, a couple of stout pegs being driven alongside, the crooked heads of which served to keep the plants in their procumbent position. A spadeful of soil was then placed on the top of each peg to assist the layer in rooting. The result at the present time is everything that could be desired, each stem having thrown up quantities of young shoots, and thus formed a jungle of underwood, which year by year will increase in value.