THE HOLLY. 



201 



berries. This barrenness is occasioned by an imperfection 

 in the pistil, the cause of which is unknown. 



The cultivated varieties of Holly are very numerous ; of 

 these three are distinguished by the unusual colour of their 

 berries, yellow, black, and white ; the rest are characterised 

 by their variegated foliage, or by the presence of a larger 



number of prickles than ordinary. Of later years more 

 attention has been paid to the discovery of new species of 

 trees than to the cultivation of new varieties, in con- 

 sequence of which many of the sorts mentioned by old 

 authors are now extinct. Of all variegated trees, the 

 Holly is the most pleasing, the yellow tint of its foliage 

 being generally of a bright decided tone, and therefore not 



