EUROPEAN HOLLY. 165 
5 they are gathered, he says, " throw them into a tub with water, and rub them 
3tween your hands till the seeds are divested of their thick, glutinous covering ; 
our off the water, with the light seeds that swim, the mucilage, &c, and spread 
le sound seeds on a cloth, in a dry, airy place, rubbing them often, and giving 
lem a fresh cloth daily till they are quite dry. If this be done in autumn or 
r inter, mix them with sand, and keep them dry till spring ; but, if they have 
3en gathered in spring, let them be sown immediately." When cuttings are 
lade choice of for the propagation of the holly, they are selected in autumn, of 
le ripened summer shoots. They are planted in a sandy soil, in a shady bor- 
er, and covered with hand-glasses ; and they generally strike root the following 
oring. It has been found by experience, that cuttings of trees and shrubs gene- 
illy, which are grown nearest the ground, or on the north side of the tree, and 
) planted as to be kept moist and shaded, always take root more readily than 
lose which have been taken from the summit, and more exposed to the influ- 
ice of light and air, the moisture and shade being the predisposing causes of 
le production of the roots. The operations of budding and grafting may be 
erformed at the usual times and in the usual manner ; but it has been observed 
y Tschoudi, that cleft-grafting does not succeed nearly so well with the holly 
3 whip-grafting. In England, the stocks budded or grafted, are generally of 
>ur or five years' growth ; and the grafting is performed in March, and the bud- 
ing in July. No plant requires less care than the holly, when it is once estab- 
shed. This species rarely needs pruning; and the varieties which have been 
rafted or budded require little more than the removal of shoots from the stock, 
'o prepare them for removal, however, whether of a large or small size, they 
Light to be taken up and replanted every other year. The seasons most usually 
iopted for the transplanting of evergreens, are the spring, and in mild weather 
l winter, although summer and autumn are generally stated to be the proper 
mes for performing that work. The principle which justifies the practice of 
mioving them in winter or spring is, that most plants are more safely removed 
rhen they are in a comparatively dormant state, and when the weather is tem- 
erate, the air moist and still, rather than dry and in motion. It is well known 
lat the greatest degree of torpidity in plants or trees exists a short time before 
ley begin to germinate or push out shoots ; consequently, as evergreens begin 
) grow only a week or two later than deciduous trees of the same climate, the 
roper time for transplanting them must be nearly the same. The chief dif- 
;rence to be observed is, the circumstance of evergreen trees being at no time 
matever in so completely a dormant state as deciduous ones ; and hence, such 
feather in winter, autumn, or spring, must be chosen for removing them, as 
rill least affect their fibrous roots and leaves by evaporation. When the holly 
i to be planted as a hedge, if it is desirable that the growth shall be rapid, the 
til ought to be trenched to the depth of three or four feet. If the subsoil be 
oor, it is recommended to dig a trench, in the direction of the intended hedge, 
iree or four feet wide, and as many deep, and to fill up the space with good 
urface soil taken from the neighbouring ground or elsewhere. The soil in the 
:ench should be raised at least a foot above the adjoining surface, to allow for 
sttling ; and along the middle of this ridge, the plants should be set from one 
oot to eighteen inches apart. According to Miller, holly hedges should never 
e clipped, because, when the leaves are cut through the middle, they are ren- 
ered unsightly ; and the shoots should therefore be cut with a knife close to a 
saf. This mode, undoubtedly, is more appropriate for hedges in gardens and 
leasure-grounds, where it is desirable to preserve an effect more pleasing to the 
ye ; but, as this method leaves a rougher exterior surface, and involves a much 
reater expense than clipping, it is unsuitable where the object is to prevent 
irds from building in the hedges, and to maintain effective fences at the least 
