Ash timber must become rarer year by year: for, being so useful, it is constantly cut down, while few new saplings are planted or encouraged to become trees.
In front a tangled mass of bramble arched over the dry ditch; it was possible to see some distance down the bank, for nothing grew on the top itself, the bushes all rising from either side--a peculiarity of clay mounds.

This narrow space was a favourite promenade of the rabbits; they usually came out there for a few minutes first, looking about before venturing forth into the meadows.

Except a little moss, scarcely any vegetation other than underwood clothed the bare hard soil of the mound; and for this reason every tiny aperture that suited their purpose was occupied by wasps.
They much prefer a clear space about the entrance to their nests, affording an unencumbered passage: there were two nests within a few yards of the ash.

Though so generally dreaded, wasps are really inoffensive insects, never attacking unless previously buffeted.

You may sit close to a wasps' nest for hours, and, if you keep still, receive no injury.