COMMON HOLLY. 39 



and reaches the dimensions of a tree of the second rank. 

 Such are many of the trees mentioned by Sir T. D. Lauder 

 as growing in the forest of Tarnawa, upon the banks 

 of the Findhorn, in Aberdeenshire, and those mentioned 

 by Sang, which grew in the forest of Black hall, upon the 

 river Dee, in the same county. In Northumberland we 

 know several remains of natural woods where the Hollies 

 are numerous, and where many have attained a size equal 

 to those upon record. At Detchant, near Belford, in a 

 large natural wood, there are still Hollies of a very large 

 size, though most of the finest have been cut down within 

 the last few years, and their valuable timber sold to the 

 herring curers. At Twizell House there are also several 

 Hollies of ancient growth and considerable size in the 

 wooded dells and other remains of natural wood. 



As an ornamental evergreen, whether in the form of a 

 tree, or as an undergrowth, the Holly is one of the most 

 beautiful we possess ; its deep green glittering foliage con- 

 trasts admirably with the rich coral hue of its berries, and 

 in our opinion it is from the contrast being more de- 

 cided, that the Common, or Green Holly, has, in this 

 respect, an advantage over any of the variegated varieties, 

 however elegant they may be; for although we confess 

 that we entertain a general dislike to variegated or blotch- 

 leaved trees, we are inclined to make an exception in 

 favour of some varieties of the Holly, particularly those 

 with silver and gold-striped leaves, as they exhibit none of 

 that ragged or sickly appearance which has always struck 

 us as belonging to the blotch-leaved varieties of other 

 trees. 



In natural woods, and especially in the deep glens and 

 rocky denes of our northern districts, however beautiful 

 and diversified the scenery may be, it never fails to receive 



