176 REMARKS ON THE HOLLY. 



served it growing abundantly in some parts of St. Leonard's forest 

 in Sussex, particularly in the neighbourhood ofHandcross. We 

 presume that many noble trees of Holly would be been seen in 

 this country, but for the practice of cutting all the finest young 

 plants to make coachmen's whips, thus leaving only the crooked 

 branches or suckers to form shrubs. 



The Holly, when it stands detached and is left to nature, forms 

 one of the most beautiful evergreen trees that this or any other 

 country produces ; its pyramidal form, its immoveable foliage, 

 its bright deep-green colour, and brilliant Vermillion berries, 

 contrast happily with almost every tree and shrub which the 

 forest or the grove affords. 



In the shrubbery these trees have a good effect, when judi- 

 ciously placed; and although we prefer the common Holly in 

 general, we recommend the variegated kinds as great enliveners 

 to dark evergreens, as the yew, cypress, &c. They should have 

 the box or some dwarf shrub in front, and a dark back-ground, 

 whilst the common variety should be mixed with gayer neigh- 

 bours; and the pale tints of the larch, which tower above its 

 head, harmonize as well with this tree as does the waving birch 

 or tremulous asp. 



The variety with yellow berries was found wild near Walder 

 Castle, as also at Wiston, near Buers, in Suffolk ; it is a very 

 ornamental tree in the shrubbery, as its berries at a distance 

 carry the appearance of blossoms from the month of October to 

 March. 



Our nurserymen now offer us nearly fifty varieties of this plant, 

 all of which may be propagated by grafting on a stock of the 

 common sort. The most curious variety is that known by the 

 name of the Hedgehog Holly, from its leaves being defended in 

 all directions by thorns ; this kind grows naturally in Canada ; 

 and Mr. Miller considered it a distinct species, and says it con- 

 tinues its natural character when raised from seeds. It was first 

 planted in the Bishop of London's Garden, at Fullham, in the 

 time of Compton, by Mr. George London, who is supposed to 

 have introduced it from France. This ingenious nurseryman 

 says, in his "Retired Gardener," 1706. *'We have great variety 

 of Hollies in England, and have brought them to more perfection 

 than they are in any other part of the world." 



(To be continued. 



