i84 TREATISE on 



fometimes four years old, and dibbling them, (ftill immoderately 

 thick), where they often continue four, five, or fix years, if not 

 demanded while they are worth the having. By this means their 

 roots are bad, their bodies tall and flender, and their tops heavy, 

 fo that the gentlell breeze of wind will fliake them to their foun- 

 dation, from which every fibre they puih out is immediately de- 

 llroyed, and the plants muft of courfe perifh : But by following 

 the pracElice here directed, the winds make no imprefTion on them, 

 nor is there m nature a hardier ti^ee, one that roots better, is 

 more patient of cutting both in the root and body, or that may 

 be planted with more undoubted fuccefs, from one to twelve or 

 fifteen feet high. 



The Holly tree, in a foil it affedls, will grow upwards of fifty 

 feet high, and even to a confiderable fize, on as great a variety 

 of foils as any plant I know. It refufes not the poorefl, hot, 

 fandy, gravelly, and rocky ground, nor the coldeft fpoutty clay 

 and till ; and its beautiful fhining. leaves, almoft covered with rich 

 fcarlet fruit, which the fevereft winter does not difcolour, makes 

 it in a particular manner, at that feafon, a moft grateful and de- 

 firable fight,. 



Tho' I have juflly reported this as one of the hardiefl plants, 

 when it has been properly cultivated, and once got good footing, 

 yet where hedges of it are planted on extremely poor and hun- 

 gry land, particularly what is ftiif, if a fmall mixture of rich 

 fandy or gravelly foil (but by no means dung) were mixed in the 

 borders, it would much promote their rooting at firil, which 

 being once put in a free-growing, ftate, they will afterwards rer- 

 quire no further afiiflance from art. 



