Holly, Yew and Box 



most satisfactory when taken with a slight heel 

 of old wood. Very strong, sappy wood should 

 be avoided, that of a thinner and sturdier char- 

 acter being desirable. It is necessary to insert 

 them firmly in light, sandy soil, either in pots, in 

 a bed in a close cold frame, or under a handlight 

 out-of-doors. The pots may either be plunged 

 in a warm propagating case or be stood in a cold 

 frame. Roots are formed slowly and no disturb- 

 ance of the cuttings should be permitted for at 

 least six months. When rooted and beginning 

 to grow, they may be planted out in a bed in a 

 cold frame or be placed in a sheltered nursery 

 border. Most of the varieties of I. Aquifolium 

 can be increased in this way, as also can such 

 species as I. crenata, I. cornuta, I. dipyrena, 

 etc. 



Budding and grafting are practised in the case 

 of the varieties of the " Common Holly." The 

 former operation is performed in summer and the 

 latter in spring. Young plants of the type are 

 used for stocks, and saleable specimens are 

 obtained in a much shorter period than when 

 propagation is effected by means of cuttings. 

 Pendulous forms are usually grafted or budded 

 on stems 6 or 8 feet high, whilst variegated 

 varieties are also grafted on tall stems to form 

 round headed specimens. With grafted plants, 

 care has always to be taken that suckers do not 

 grow from the stock to injure the scion. 



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