174 REMARKS ON THE HOLLY. 



and grow rapidly. I purchased my plants at 2s. and 6d. each. 



I cut them down when I repotted them the second spring, being 



informed that plants so treated grew much more vigorous, than if 



all the tops were retained, as in that case the 6hoots are always 



weakly and produce few flowers. 



L. Harriett. 



ARTICLE V. 

 REMARKS ON THE HOLLY. 



French naturalists have made the Holly the emblem of foresight, 

 because, they say, that the foresight of Nature is admirably ex- 

 emplified by this beautiful tree, which, when growing in its natural 

 forest, protects itself by numerous leaves bristling with thorns, 

 till it rises to about the height of ten feet, when the leaves cease 

 to be thorny, and are perfectly smooth and even, because it has 

 no longer any occasion to arm itself against any enemy who 

 cannot reach higher ; but we revere the Holly branch %vith its 

 spiny and highly varnished foliage, which reflects its coral berries 

 as an emblem that foretells the festival of Christmas, and the sea- 

 son when English hospitality shines in roast beef, turkeys, and 

 the national pudding. 



Tradition says that the first Christian church in Britain was 

 built with boughs ; and the disciples adopted the plan, as more 

 likely to attract the notice of the people, because the heathen 

 built their temples in v that manner, probably to imitate the tem- 

 ples of Saturn, which were always under the oak. 



The great feast of Saturn was held in December ; and as the 

 oaks in this country were then without leaves, the priests obliged 

 the people to bring in boughs and sprigs of evergreens; and 

 Christians on the 25th of t-he same month did the like ; from 

 whence originated the present custom of placing Holly and other 

 evergreens in our churches and houses, to show the feast of 

 Christmas is arrived. 



This tree appears to have been formerly called Hulver, by 

 which name it is still known in Norfolk, and Holme, in the 

 southern counties; as appears by the name it has given to many 

 places, where it grows naturally, as the Holmwood between Hor- 

 sham and Dorking. Mr. Evelyn says, that the vale near hi& 



