56 THE HOLLY TREE. 



To turn mnv to the Holly, the new shoots are straight and stout, 

 but thev "-row trom the branches in a sliy-htly curved direction, and 

 torm with them an angle rather less than a right angle. The node 

 from which thev spring becomes thickened, but not so much so as 

 to conceal the sharpness oi the angle ot divergence (which comes 

 about in the case oi the elderberry). These young shoots are of a 

 rich green colour, rounded, smooth and glossy. When the tree stands 

 by itself the main stem is clearly marked from the unround to the 

 summit ; the lateral boughs are longest near the base of the trunk, 

 and decrease in length, with great regularity, towards tlie apex. To 

 this the tree owes its markedly conical outline, which is only broken 

 by an occasional shoot that has straggled beyond its due limits. 



In old Hollies which have grown up amongst other trees, the 

 trunk usually divides a tew leet abo\'e the ground, and trom this 

 base large limbs spread away with a full curve, not unlike those of 

 the beech. Continuing; their upward tjrowth, and decreasin"- in trirth 

 by successive stages as they give off branches, these limbs may be 

 traced up to the very top ot the tree. Adventitious shoots spring 

 up trfjm them, and their long vertical lines are conspicuous from the 

 curved and often horizoiital lines ot the limbs they grow from. \'crtical 

 branches are also found growing trom the stem of a fallen Holly 

 where the roots have not been severed. Tlic lower branches droop 

 nearly to the ground, and then rise again, making doidile curves of 

 much grace. The main stems are often twisted on their axis, and 

 show much variety and richness of colouring, tor on the underside, 

 where little affected b.y the weather, they are reddish grey, while on 

 the upper and exposed side, greyish lichens cover them, which are 

 transformed by heavy rains tf) a mossy green. The bark is naturally 

 smooth in texture, but in old trees its surface is broken by scars 



