162 COMMON SENSE GARDENS 



HOLLY is a most decorative plant, especially 

 when it is old enough to bear the bright red berries. 

 The use of Holly and other evergreens in religious 

 ceremonies dates from pagan times and it is con- 

 sidered in these days a welcome addition to Yule- 

 tide; in fact it has grown to be a part of Christ- 

 mas itself. It is hard to nurse the English Holly 

 through a northern Winter unless some protection 

 is given to it. It is a good shrub for the yard, and 

 should be planted where it may be seen from the 

 house; it is far too attractive to waste its sweetness 

 on the desert air, as it well might if planted in the 

 garden, for it is in Winter that it is at its best. 



The NATIVE HOLLY (Ilex opaca) which is found 

 from Massachusetts southwards to Florida grows 

 into a tree ten to thirty feet in height, with a com- 

 pact head of spreading branches. It is particu- 

 larly good in Virginia and was used there quite 

 often near the house. It is not often found in 

 northern gardens, although there is no reason why 

 effective and beautiful hedges could not be made 

 of it. 



The best small trees and shrubs to plant, in the 

 order named, are: 



