66 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



it will attain a height of three or four feet, and produce 

 in profusion during the winter months its large clusters 

 of elegant catkins. Both the male and female forms 

 should be planted. 



ILEX OR HOLLY. The hollies constitute the most 

 valuable of all the evergreens with inconspicuous 

 flowers, for they thrive in soils and situations of all 

 descriptions, and succeed in both town and country 

 gardens. Hollies are highly effective in association 

 with deciduous and evergreen shrubs in borders, and 

 they contribute materially to the attractions of the garden 

 when grown as single specimens on the lawn. A well- 

 drained soil is desirable, and in preparing heavy soils 

 a liberal addition of road sand, the sweepings of walks, 

 will greatly improve it. During the earlier stages, the 

 leading shoots of the plants should be supported by neat 

 stakes and other strong growths should be checked, and 

 throughout their growth they should be pruned suf- 

 ficiently to keep them compact without being unduly 

 formal. Usually the removal of a portion of the 

 very strong shoots will accomplish all that is desired. 

 The pruning should be done in the spring, and with a 

 knife, as the use of shears in pruning hollies is most 

 objectionable. 



The best of the green-leaved varieties of Ilex aquifolium 

 for gardens are: Angustifolia, an elegant form with rather 

 long narrow leaves ; Handsiuorthiensis, a handsome broad- 

 leaved form ; Hodginst, a distinct variety, with broad 

 smooth leaves, very handsome, and the best for town 

 gardens in smoky districts ; crenata, an elegant variety 

 with small myrtle-like leaves. The variegated forms 

 that should have the preference are Golden Queen and 

 Silver Queen, which are very bright and effective, and 

 have golden and silvery variegation respectively. 



LAURELS. These are, for the most part, too robust 

 in growth to be planted otherwise than sparingly in 



