272 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. of the culture of this vulgar, but incomparable tree, whether we pro- 

 """'y^ pagate it for use and defence, or for sight and ornament. 



' — <— Mala furta hominum densis mucronibus arcens 

 Securum defendit inexpugnabilis hortum, 

 Exornatque simul, toto spectabilis anno, 



Et numero et viridi foliorum luce nitentum. couleii pl. lib. vi. 



A hedge of Holly, thieves that would invade> 

 Repulses like a growing palisade ; 

 Whose numerous leaves such orient greens invest. 

 As in deep winter do the spring arrest. 



Which makes me wonder why it should be reckoned among the unfortu* 

 nate trees by Macrobius, Sat. lib. ii. cap. xvi. and by others among the 

 lucky ; for so it seems they used to send branches of it, as well as of 

 Oak, (the most fortunate, according to the Gentile theology,) with their 

 Strense, (New- Year's Gifts,) 'begun, as Symachils tell us, by King Tatius, 

 almost as old as Rome herself 



But to say no more of these superstitious fopperings, which iare many, 

 about this tree, we still dress up both our churches and houses, on 

 Christmas and other festival days, with this cheerful green, and its 

 rutilant berries. 



care to wait so long ; therefore the usual and best method is to plant the hedges with 

 plants of the before-mentioned age. But where this is practised, they should be trans- 

 planted either early in the auturrin, or deferred till toward the end of March ; then the 

 surface of the ground should be covered with mulch near their roots after they are planted, 

 to keep the earth moist ; and if the season should prove dry, the plants should be watered 

 at least once a- week, until they have taken root, otherwise they will be in danger of mis* 

 carrying ; for which reason the autumnal planting is generally preferred to the spring, 

 especially in dry gi*ounds. Columella's description of a good hedge is highly applicable to 

 one made of Holly. " Neu sit pecori, neu per via furi." Of the vind of this tree bird-lime 

 is made : 



" Alas ! in vain with warmth and food 

 " You cheer the songsters of the wood ; 

 " The barbarous boy from you prepares 

 *' On treacherous twigs his viscous snares : 

 Yes, the poor bird you nurs'd shall find 

 " Destruction in your rifled rind.*' 



