HOW TO GROW GOOD FENCES. 225 



No grazing cattle through their prickly round 



Can reach to wound ; 

 But as they grow where nothing is to fear, 

 Smooth and unarmed, the pointless leaves appear. 



Southey. 



In growing hedges, the clipping to keep them 

 within bounds helps to keep the holly spinous at 

 any age. 



Evelyn further descants upon the excellency of 

 holly for hedges ; and as the following remarks are 

 so truly practical, we quote them in this place : — 



The holly is an excellent plant for hedges, and would claim the 

 preference to the hawthorn, were it not for the slowness of its growth 

 while young, and the difficulty of transplanting it when grown to a 

 moderate size. It will grow best in cold, stouy land, where, if once 

 it takes well, the hedges may be rendered so close and thick as to 

 keep out all sorts of animals. These hedges may be raised by sowing 

 the berries in the place where they are designed to remain, or by 

 plants of three or four years' growth ; but as the berries continue in 

 the ground near eighteen months before the plants appear, few 

 persons care to wait so long ; therefore, the usual and best method is 

 to plant the hedges with plants of the before-mentioned age. But 

 where this is pi-actised, they should be transplanted either early in 

 autumn, or deferred till toward the end of March ; then the surface 

 of the ground should be covered with mulch near their roots, after 

 they are planted, to keep the earth moist ; and if the season should 

 prove dry, the plants should be watered, at least once a-week, until 

 they have taken root, otherwise they will be in danger of mis- 

 carrying, for which reason the autumnal planting is generally pre- 

 ferred to the spring, especially in dry grounds. Columella's descrip- 

 tion of a good hedge is highly applicable to one made of holly, 

 " Neu sit pecori, neu pervia furi." Of the rind of this tree birdlime 

 is made. 



Alas ! in vain with warmth and food 

 You cheer the songsters of the wood ; 

 The barbarous boy from you prepares, 

 On treacherous twigs, his viscous snares; 

 Yes, the poor bird you nursed shall find 

 Destruction in your rifled rind. 



