ILEX. 
When the plants are about to flow- 
er, those of the common kind should | 
be six or eight inches apert every | 
way at least; and those of J. corond- 
ria, the Rocket Candytuft, should | 
be from one to two feet apart; and | 
thus treated, the flowers will be very 
large and fine. When it is not | 
thought advisable to take so much 
trouble, the seeds may be sown very | 
thin, either in autumn or early in 
255 
: | yellow, and even black fruit. 
spring ; either alone, or mixed with 
mignonette ; and in either case they | 
will look very weil in the flower | 
borders. The perennial and suffru- 
ticose kinds are well adapted for 
rock-work; and they are easily 
propagated by cuttings, or dividing 
the root. 
Icevanp Moss.—Cetrdria islan- 
dica. 
Ice Prant.—See Mesemsrya’n- 
THEMUM. 
IcuneumMon Fiy.—A very elegant 
slender creature, somewhat resem- 
bling a gnat, which generally de- 
posits its eggs in the living body of 
a caterpillar. Great numbers of 
caterpillars are thus destroyed every 
year; and as the grub of the Ichneu- 
mon does not feed upon vegetable 
matter of any kind, it may thus be 
regarded as a friend to gardeners, 
and it should be spared accordingly. 
There are several kinds of Ichneu- 
mon Flies, some much larger than 
others, but the habits of all are the 
same. 
I‘tex.—This name is frequently 
applied in common conversation to 
the Quércus Ilex, or evergreen oak ; 
but it is properly the botanic name 
of the Holly. 
DLex.—Aquifolidcee.—A genus 
of evergreen shrubs or low trees, of 
which the most interesting is Ilex 
IL LICIUM. 
‘gated with cream colour, white, dif. 
‘ferent shades of yellow, and slight 
_ tinges of red; and others have white, 
They 
are all beautiful, and, being ever- 
green and quite hardy, are reckoned 
among the most ornamental of 
British shrubs. ‘They grow slowly, 
| but, as they are always erect and 
compact, they are very valuable for 
small gardens, where the plants 
require to be kept within bounds. 
The species are propagated by seeds, 
which are kept a winter in rot-heap 
| before they are sown ; and the varie- 
ties are propagated by budding or 
grafting on the species, and some- 
times by cuttings. As, however, the 
operation of propagation, whether 
by seeds or otherwise, is slow, and, 
in the case of budding and grafting, 
somewhat difficult, amateurs will 
always find it preferable to purchase 
plants from the nurserymen. Hol- 
hes will grow in any soil in an airy 
situation, but they do not thrive in 
coal smoke. ‘They prefer a loamy 
soil, but they will grow in sand, and 
also in strong clay ; and, though 
not so well, on chalk or: limestone. 
They make beautiful and permanent 
hedges, elegant single trees and pic- 
turesque groups; and, from the 
closeness of their foliage, they are 
very useful in shutting out any un- 
pleasant objects. A Holly Hedge 
is also well adapted for a street or 
roadside garden; as, while it serves 
as a screen, it has a cheerful look, 
both in summer and winter. 
Inui c1tum.— Winterdcee.— Half- 
hardy shrubs, with very dark 
strongly-scented flowers, which 
smell like aniseed; and hence the 
popular name applied to the genus, 
of Amiseed Tree. Most of the 
Aquifolium, or the Common Holly, | kinds come from China, and are 
a native of Britain, with fine dark- | tender in British gardens ; but J. 
green prickly leaves, and scarlet or | fléridum, an American species, is 
coral-coloured berries. There are a very nearly hardy, only requiring 
great many varieties of this shrub, > | Protection in severe winters. ‘They 
some of which have leaves varie- | should all be grown in peat; and 
