The Hollies as Hedge Plants 



coral. It mocks at the rudest assaults of weather, 

 beasts, or hedge breakers." 



On the point of its beautiful appearance, 

 impregnable nature, and value for keeping out 

 undesirables, he speaks with great freedom, and 

 quotes the following verse on behalf of his 

 contentions : 



"A Hedge of Holly, Thieves that would invade 

 Repulses like a growing Palisade 

 Whose numerous leaves such Orient Greens invest 

 As in deep winter do the spring arrest." 



Coming down to more recent times, we find 

 some famous Holly hedges mentioned in Selbys 

 British Forest Trees, published in 1842. In the 

 Earl of Haddington's garden at Tynynghame it is 

 stated that "2952 yards of hedges existed, which 

 varied in width from 9 to 13 feet and in height 

 from 10 to 25 feet." At that time many of these 

 hedges were said to be 127 years old. Upon 

 enquiry I learn that 25 years ago they showed 

 signs of deterioration and required vigorous 

 treatment in the way of cutting back, this how- 

 ever was not done, and they have now fallen into 

 a state of general decay. When at their best 

 these hedges were said to be remarkable objects, 

 and it is stated that in order to protect them 

 from cattle, ditches had been made along each 

 side. Other fine hedges are said by Selby to 

 have existed at Collington House and Morton, 

 near Edinburgh. 



31 



