THE ILEX, EVERGREEN OAK, 

 OR HOLM-OAK. 



QuERcus Ilex. 



Natural Order — Amentace^. 

 Class — MoNOECiA. Order — Polyandria. 



The Ilex is not a native of Great Britain ; nor, 

 although it flourishes and becomes a large tree in 

 congenial situations, is it likely that it will ever 

 become so far naturalized as to propagate itself to 

 any extent. Nevertheless, as an ornament to the 

 landscape it is a great acquisition, affording in 

 summer, with its sombre foliage, a pleasing con- 

 trast to the brighter tints of every other tree in 

 the neighbourhood, and no less valuable when the 

 deciduous trees have thrown off their perishable 

 garniture, and wisely prepared themselves to 

 encounter the storms of winter by clearing them- 

 selves of what would oppose their boisterous pro- 

 gress. The Ilex, too, will stand the sea-breeze un- 

 injured, and thrives better than most other ever- 

 greens in the vicinity of cities where it is exposed 

 to the effects of coal-smoke. For all these reasons, 

 therefore, now that more attention is paid to the 

 subject of planting than ever was before, man will 

 in all probability do for it what Nature refuses to 

 perform, and in all artificial plantations it will al- 

 ways be a favourite addition to the woodland scene. 



It is a fellow-countryman of the Latin Classic 

 Poets, from whom it has received frequent and 



