Holly, Yew and Box 



Grown as specimens, either isolated or in 

 groups, great care should be taken with any 

 necessary pruning. The greater number are 

 naturally of pyramidal outline and inclined to be 

 a little formal whilst young. If allowed to grow 

 freely and the necessary pruning is done in the 

 manner previously described, so that a loose 

 branch effect is left, the natural formality of 

 habit is not objectionable, but, when as is too 

 often the case, the pruning takes the form of 

 clipping, and trees are made to look like gigantic, 

 green-painted sugar loaves or inflated plum 

 puddings, the effect is absurd and positively 

 cruel. In the case of hedges, clipping has to be 

 done, but what pleasure people can find in 

 practically planing the head of such a fine tree 

 as the Holly passes all comprehension. 



For certain styles of gardening we are told 

 that this hard clipping is absolutely essential, if 

 that is so, keep it within gardens of these particular 

 styles and relegate them to the retired list, or keep 

 them here and there as a sort of museum example 

 of what was met with in bygone days. 



The last decade or two has certainly done 

 much to banish many objectionable features from 

 gardens, and a freer and more natural style is, 

 generally, more in evidence than was previously 

 the case : there are, however, a few things that 

 need alteration, and one is the hard clipping of 

 beautiful Hollies. 



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