Idesia 



( 439 ) 



Ilex 



Principal Species : 



acuminutus, vvli. elegans, pur. 



caryophyllatus, Oct., pale frutesceus, 10', Jy., pur. 

 yel. 



IDESIA. 



A lianly tree (iird. Bixinese) with leaves some- 

 what similar to those of a Lime, but more leathery, 



Pholn: r,:x.~,ll ,( rompanji. Ltd. 



ILEX AUUIFOLIIM AI-KHA REOINA, THE GOLDKS 

 QUEEN HOI.LY (see p. 440). 



lieart-shapcil, and handsome. The large, yellow 

 (lowers arc produced in very long terminal or sub- 

 terminal branching racemes. Polycarpa (syiix. 

 Flacoiirtia japonica and Polycarpa Maximowiczii) 

 is propagated by imported seeds sown in gentle 

 heat; also, witlfrsome difficulty, by cuttings in heat 

 during spring or autumn. Any good garden soil 

 will suit it. The flowers are followed by orange 

 berries about the size of a Pea. 



ILEX. (HOLLY, yn. PRIXOS.) 

 Description. Hardy ami tender trees and shrubs 

 (prd. llicineie), witli leathery, evergreen leaves (de- 

 cidua being one exception to this) mostly entire, 

 less often cut, and seldom so spiny as in the 

 Common Holly (Aquifolium) and the variety 

 named ferox. Flowers hermaphrodite or often 

 male and female in Aquifolium, white, except in 

 Perado, which has white, pink, or reddish flowers, 

 followed usually by red berries. 



Propagation. By the berries, which should be 

 si ratified in layers of sand for a year till the pulp 

 rots and the bony case enclosing the seed softens, 

 after which they may be sown thickly in lines in 

 prepared beds in March. Grafting and budding in 

 July are adopted for the increase of varieties, and 

 cuttings of ripened young shoots taken in the 

 uiitumn may bo inserted in prepared soil on a nortli 

 border and covered with frames or hand-lights till 



IdotJicariti (zee Drirnia). 

 lynatia (see Strijclinns). 



they take root. But a quicker and more certain 

 method is to take cuttings in July of wood which 

 is just becoming firm. 



Soil. Hollies grow in a great variety of soils 

 loamy, chalky, gravelly, or sandy, provided thev 

 are well drained. Any friable garden soil will 

 meet their requirements. Land of a poor or 

 hungry nature may be improved by means nf 

 well-rotted manure, or fresh soil of good staple. 

 Tender species may be planted in friable, fairly 

 rich, and well-drained soil. 



Other Cultural Points. The Common Holly is 

 pruned in various ways to form round-headed, 

 conical, or pyramidal specimens, the two former 

 methods being adopted in small gardens to limit 

 its size, the variegated forms being the more 

 frequently treated in this way. The loose 

 pyramidal form is the best for large specimens. 

 The Common Holly makes very durable and 

 impenetrable hedges, but here, as in all other 

 cases, the knife, rather than the shears, should be 

 employed, as cut leaves are very unsightly and 

 often die. Pruning should not be resorted to for 

 the purpose of hastening the rate of growth, and 

 the leader of those intended for trees should not be 

 cut. Hollies transplant badly after they attain to 

 some size, and the operation is best accomplished 

 during April or September. Dull, showery weather 

 should be selected for the operation, and the trees 

 should be frequently syringed until the roots have 



Photo: Ciutetl if- Comimmj, Ltd. 



ILEX CKESATA (see p. 



440 . 



got a firm hold of the soil. Large specimens or trees. 

 should always be lifted with a good ball of soil, 

 even if it is necessary to employ a proper trans- 

 planting machine for the purpose. The fresh holes 

 should be ready before the trees are lifted ; and 

 mats should lie tied round the ball to keep the soil 

 intact. Fill the space round the roots with good 



