that if the &quot;He-Holly&quot; is brought first into the house on Christmas eve the 

 husband will be master throughout the year, but if the &quot;She-Holly&quot; comes 

 first then the wife will run the household. 



On Christmas Eve tiny pieces of lighted candle are placed on holly leaves, 

 which are set to float in a tub of water. Each leaf represents some person, 

 who gives it a wish. If the leaf remains afloat it is believed the wish will be 

 gratified. If it sinks, the wish will not be fulfilled. 



ENGLISH HOLLY 



The English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a small tree rarely exceeding forty 

 feet in height. It is frequently planted to form a dense prickly hedge, and it 

 is said that Peter the Great worked off some of his spare energy running a wheel 

 barrow through such a hedge. 



As a tree the holly is picturesque with its dark-green leaves, which form 

 a contrast with the bright greens of surrounding trees in summer and the 

 leafless branches in winter. It had a joyful effect on Shakespeare, who wrote: 



&quot;Heigh- Ho! the green Holly! 

 This life is most jolly.&quot; 



Holly has a slow growth and thrives best in deep, rich soils where there 

 is plenty of shade and moisture. Its great shade-endurance fits it for under 

 planting or for grouping with other evergreen foliage. 



A row of holly trees planted for ornament around two sides of a large lot 

 in Portland, Oregon, some years ago, has yielded Christmas decorations to the 

 value of over $500 per year for the last two years without injuring the trees. 



HORSE CHESTNUT 



I he horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is thought to have come 

 originally from the mountains of Greece. It is largely planted in all countries 

 with temperate climates and makes a sturdy tree of strong growth. It has a 

 roundish outline and a somewhat coarse branch habit with the tips of the 

 branches peculiarly curved upward. The tree reaches a height of about 

 eighty feet and has a smooth cylindrical bole which rarely exceeds two feet in 

 diameter. 



(78) 



