WINTER AND SUMMER EFFECT 299 



ILEX AQUIFOLIUM (the Common Holly). The 

 Holly is one of the very finest of our evergreens 

 for bold planting. Fortunately, it is one of the few 

 evergreens that will succeed and grow luxuriantly 

 under the drip of trees, where many other things 

 fail. Large breadths of Holly in good health are 

 a pleasure to look at at all seasons of the year, 

 particularly when well laden with bright - scarlet 

 berries. The Holly is seen at its best on light, well- 

 drained soils, that of a stiff clayey nature (especially 

 so when water-logged) being the most unfavourable 

 to its growth. Fortunately, it will adapt itself to 

 any mode of pruning, but unquestionably the best 

 way to treat it is to plant in large bold clumps, 

 allowing it to grow away at its own sweet will. 

 Many of the more uncommon varieties, both green 

 and variegated, make highly attractive groups and 

 beds, and where expense is of little object should 

 most certainly be planted. 



RHODODENDRONS. Of course, one must possess 

 a suitable soil to plant the more beautiful varieties in 

 any quantity ; nevertheless, the common R. ponticum 

 and hybrid seedlings, of which there are now for- 

 tunately a great variety, will succeed in nearly 

 all soils free from lime. The ground should be 

 thoroughly broken up during autumn, and the 

 planting done 4 feet apart in the spring. The seed- 

 vessels should be picked off after flowering, and 

 the plants are much benefited by an occasional top- 

 dressing of road grit and leaf soil. Even here on 

 a cold London clay, where the ground has been 



