HOLLY. 285 



press, &c. They should have the box, or 

 some dwarf shrub in front, and a dark back- 

 ground, whilst the common variety should be 

 mixed with gayer neighbours ; and the pale 

 tints of the larch, which tower above its head, 

 harmonize as well with this tree as does the 

 waving birch or tremulous asp. 



The variety with yellow berries was found 

 wild near Walder Castle, as also at Wiston, 

 near Buers, in Suffolk ; it is a very ornamen- 

 tal tree in the shrubbery, as its berries at a 

 distance carry the appearance of blossoms 

 from the month of October to March. . 



Our nurserymen now offer us nearly fifty 

 varieties of this plant, all of which may be 

 propagated by grafting on a stock of the com- 

 mon sort. The most curious variety is that 

 known by the name of Hedgehog holly, from 

 its leaves being defended in all directions by 

 thorns ; this kind grows naturally in Canada; 

 and Mr. Miller considered it a distinct spe- 

 cies, and says it continues its natural charac- 

 ter when raised from seeds. It was first 

 planted in the Bishop of London's Garden, at 

 Fullham, in the time of Compton, by Mr. 

 George London, who is supposed to have in- 

 troduced it from France. This ingenious 

 nurseryman says, in his " Retired Gardener," 

 1706. " We have great variety of hollies 



