While we have never met any one who actually hated honeysuckle, if
there is a man who curses it occasionally it is the copse-worker
chopping underwood. A honeysuckle trail will turn a well-aimed blow
from its true direction, and so may cause the copser to cut himself
very badly--even a slight blow from his sharp bill-hook is a serious
matter. The copser's hand and arm have received the order to swing
outwards to gather force for a quick stroke--honeysuckle arrests the
bill-hook and turns its direction, while the hand and arm disastrously
go on with the reflex part of the order. And though we do not suppose
there is a copse-worker in the whole world who does not appreciate
rabbits to eat, probably most of them speak at times as harshly of
rabbits as of honeysuckle. For rabbits gnaw the underwood, and when
the butt of a stem has been gnawed by rabbits' teeth, part of the wood
dies, and is far harder to cut than a clean stem.
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