HOLLY BUSH. 



165 



Holly be intermixed with the plain, they will add to the 

 beauty. 



This tree is excellent for a hedge or fence, and would 

 be preferable to the hawthorn for the purpose, were it 

 not for its slow growth while young, and the difficulty of 

 transplanting it after infancy. "Is there under heaven,'" 

 says Evelyn, " a more glorious and refreshing object of 

 the kind than an impregnable hedge of about four hun- 

 dred feet in length, nine feet high, and five in diameter ; 

 which I can show in my now ruined gardens at Sayes 

 Court (thanks to the Czar of Muscovy*), at any time of 

 the year, ghttering with its armed and varnished leaves — 

 the taller standards at orderly distances, blushing with 

 their natural coral ? It mocks the rude assaults of the 

 Aveather, beasts, or hedge-breaker."' 



" A hedge of holly thieves, diat would invade. 

 Repulses like a growing palisade : 

 AVhose numerous leaves such orient green invest 

 As in deep winter do the spring arrest " 



Cowley. 



" Seven years,"" says Evelyn, " v/e wait for a quickset 

 hedge ; it is Avorth staying thrice seven for this, which 

 has no competitor."" 



The timber of the HoJly is in great esteem with the 

 millwright, turner, and engraver ; it takes a fine polish, 

 and is well adapted for several kinds of furniture. Miller 

 mentions a room floored in compartments of holly and 



* The Czar, Peter the Great, resided at Mr. Evelyn's house, in 

 order to be near the dock-yard at Deptford during his stay in 

 England. The garden appears not to have improved under his 

 care. Indeed it is said that the Emperor took great delight in the 

 very elegant amusement of being wheeled in a barrow through the 

 thick holly-hedges, which were the pride of the garden. 



