174 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Hex continued. 



it would otherwise be. It is not unusual to allow a 

 long stem to ran up, and form a tree at intervals along 

 a Holly hedge. The red berries, contrasting with the 

 dark green foliage throughout the winter, have a very 

 pleasing appearance, and the branches are in great 

 request for Christmas decorations. Propagation is usually 

 effected by seeds, which require treatment similar to 

 those of the Hawthorn, being collected when ripe in the 

 autumn, and buried in sand until the following spring 

 or autumn, when they may be sown in drills or beds 

 and covered with Jin. of soil. A few boughs, placed 

 over the beds, will be very serviceable as a protection 

 against frosts or the heat of the sun, which latter is 

 injurious to the young Hollies. The plants may remain 

 in the seed-beds for two years, and can then be trans- 

 ferred into nursery rows 1ft. apart. After being trans- 

 planted, they must stand for two years at least, when 

 they will require to be again removed, to give them 

 more space. The plants will then be about lift, or 

 lift. high. The varieties can only be propagated by 

 grafting, during March; and by budding, in May, with 

 a pushing bud, or in August with a dormant one. 

 Stocks for both purposes may be of the common sort, 

 raised from seed. There are a number of varieties of 

 far more horticultural value than the species. The 

 variegated forms are particularly attractive. 



Hex continued. 



FIG. 269. ILEX AQUIFOLIUM. 



Z. Aqulfolium (prickly-leaved).* Common Holly. JL sub-umbel- 

 late ; peduncles axillary, short, and many-flowered. May and 

 June. Berries red, roundish. I. ovate or oblong-acute, shining, 

 waved, spiny-toothed, h. 10ft. to 40ft. Europe (Britain) and 

 West Asia. See Fig. 269. From the bark of this, as well as 

 some other species, birdlime is obtained. 



I. Casslne (Cassine). fl. in clusters, nearly sessile, smooth. 

 May. I. alternate, evergreen, lance-ovate or elliptical, crenate. 

 South United States, 1726. Shrnb. The leaves are used for 

 tea by the people along the coast, as they formerly were to 

 make the celebrated "Black Drink" of the North Carolina 

 Indians. 



I. chinensis (Chinese), fl., corymbs pedunculate, dichotomous. 

 July. I. ovate-oblong; edge with little, cartilaginous, scarcely 

 pungent teeth, h. 10ft. China, 1814. (B. M. 2043.) 



I. cornnta (horned).* Berries large. I. hard, dark green, almost 

 always furnished with three strong spines at the end, which, in 

 mature plants, assume the appearance of horns ; when young, one 

 or two more spines are added at each side, but these disappear in 

 old plants. North China, 1850. A fine hardy Holly. See Fig. ^70. 



Z. orenata (crenated).* fl., peduncles drooping, scattered on the 

 branches, usually three-flowered. Spring. I. ovate, crenate, 

 blunt, with revolute edges. Japan. Of this compact-growing, 

 small-leaved species, there are several forms: Fortunei has 

 rounder leaves, and is a stronger grower than the type ; varie- 

 yata has leaves blotched with dull yellow. See Fig. 271. 



Z. Dahopn (Dahoon). fl., peduncles lateral and terminal, in 

 pamcled corymbs. May and June. Berries red. I. lanceolate- 

 elliptical, coriaceous, almost quite entire, with the edges a little 

 revolute, and with the midrib, petioles, and branchlets villous. 

 *.8ft. North America, 1726. (W. D. B. ii. 114.) 



FIG. 270. ILEX CORMJTA, showing Habit, detached Flowering 

 Branch, and Flower. 



Z. D. myrtifolia (Myrtle-leaved), fl., peduncles slender, three 

 to nine-flowered, or the more fertile shorter and one-flowered, 

 smooth. May. I. linear-lanceolate or linear-oblong, sparingly 

 and sharply serrate or entire. A. 6ft. South United States, 1806. 

 Shrub. 



FIG. 271. BRANCHLET OF ILEX CRENATA VARIEGATA. 



Z. decidua (deciduous). /., peduncles of the sterile flowers 

 longer than the petioles, of the fertile ones short; calyx teeth 

 smooth, acute. May. L wedge-oblong or lance-obovate, obtusely 

 serrate, downy on the midrib beneath, shining above. United 

 States. Shrub. (W. D. B. iL 115.) 



FIG. 272. LEAF OF ILEX DIPVRE.NA 



