166 THE HOLLY 



The disappearance of the holly from the woods and 

 natural wilds of many parts of these islands is part of 

 the penalty we have to pay for the presence of the 

 accursed rabbit. The holly sows itself freely, growing 

 vigorously under the drip and shade of other trees, even 

 of the surface-rooting beech, which stifles almost every 

 other kind of undergrowth ; but it possesses an irre- 

 sistible attraction for rabbits; seedlings and young 

 plants are devoured bodily ; mature trees even of three 

 and four feet in girth are liable to be barked and killed ; 

 and thus one of the most exquisite ornaments of our 

 woodlands has well nigh passed from us, except where 

 laborious means are adopted to protect the plants. John 

 Evelyn waxed enthusiastic over the holly, so abundant 

 in his day on the Surrey hills : 



' But, above all the natural Greens, which enrich our home- 

 born store, there is none certainly to be compar'd to our 

 Holly, insomuch as I have often wonder'd at our curiosity 

 after forreign Plants, and expensive difficulties, to the neglect 

 of the culture of this vulgar but incomparable tree. Is there 

 under Heaven a more glorious and refreshing object of the 

 kind than an impregnable Hedge of near three hundred foot 

 in length, nine foot high, and five in diameter; which I can 

 show in my poor Gardens at any time of the year, glitt'ring 

 with its arm'd and vernished leaves 1 the taller Standards at 

 orderly distances, blushing with their natural Coral.' 



The hedge alluded to was not at Wotton, but at 

 Evelyn's other place, Sales Court, Deptford ; and it is 

 on record how it was injured and almost destroyed by 

 the Tsar, Peter the Great, who, when he became tenant 



