that if the "He-Holly" is brought first into the house on Christmas eve the 

 husband will be master throughout the year, but if the "She-Holly" comes 

 first then the wife will run the household. 



On Christmas Eve tiny pieces of lighted candle are placed on holly leaves, 

 which are set to float in a tub of water. Each leaf represents some person, 

 who gives it a wish. If the leaf remains afloat it is believed the wish will be 

 gratified. If it sinks, the wish will not be fulfilled. 



ENGLISH HOLLY 



The English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a small tree rarely exceeding forty 

 feet in height. It is frequently planted to form a dense prickly hedge, and it 

 is said that Peter the Great worked off some of his spare energy running a wheel- 

 barrow through such a hedge. 



As a tree the holly is picturesque with its dark-green leaves, which form 

 a contrast with the bright greens of surrounding trees in summer and the 

 leafless branches in winter. It had a joyful effect on Shakespeare, who wrote : 



"Heigh-Ho! the green Holly! 

 This life is most jolly." 



Holly has a slow growth and thrives best in deep, rich soils where there 

 is plenty of shade and moisture. Its great shade-endurance fits it for under 

 planting or for grouping with other evergreen foliage. 



A row of holly trees planted for ornament around two sides of a large lot 

 in PortKand, Oregon, some years ago, has yielded Christmas decorations to the 

 value of over $500 per year for the last two years without injuring the trees. 



HORSE CHESTNUT 



The horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is thought to have come 

 originally from the mountains of Greece. It is largely planted in all countries 

 with temperate climates and makes a sturdy tree of strong growth. It has a 

 roundish outline and a somewhat coarse branch habit with the tips of the 

 branches peculiarly curved upward. The tree reaches a height of about 

 eighty feet and has a smooth cylindrical bole which rarely exceeds two feet in 

 diameter. 



(78) 



