THE HOLLY. 



203 



in large quantities, and shipped to the East Indies for 

 destroying insects. It is raised from seeds, which do not 

 germinate until the second year : hence the berries are 

 generally buried in a heap of earth for a year previously 

 to being sown. 



A low shrubby plant, which occurs not unfrequently in 



BUTCHER'S BROOM. 



woods and hedges, is sometimes called Knee-holly, though 

 in no way allied to the. true Hollies. Its botanical name 

 is Ritscus aculeatus, and it is also called Butcher's Broom. 

 It belongs to the natural order of Liliacece, and is the only 

 indigenous shrub in the class Endogens. It may easily 

 be detected by its tough, green, striated stems, which are 



