THE HOLLIES. 



121 



but not stiffly- clipped lines. Better still is the free undipped holly 

 hedge, as it makes a tine shelter as well as a good background, of which 

 there is a fine example above the kitchen garden at Batsford Park. In 

 Warwickshire and other counties we have often seen it making as good 

 a shelter round fields as any shed. Of the clipped holly hedges fine 

 examples are at Woolverstone in Suffolk. Where land is not valuable 

 — either from its poverty or elevation, or other reasons— it matters little 

 whether the hedge is clipped or not, especially round woodland, and for 

 cutting off woods and pasture fields. For such a case the finest hedge 

 is thaL of undipped holly, because then we get its fruit and protection 

 and fine form. Such hedges might be either of holly alone or mixed 

 with sloe or quick." Another remarkable hedge is on the western 

 boundary of the gardens at Keele Hall, Staffordshire. 



An enemy of the holly hedge is the rabbit, but in hard winters many 

 other trees and shrubs suffer from this pest, and even the bark of the 

 beech trees is consumed. 



The writer referred to also remarks : " Holly is found flourishing on 

 dry gravelly land as well as on strong clay, but sand and sandy loam are 

 the soils it delights in most. On fiat ground the site intended for the 

 holly hedge should be trenched and manured before the time of planting, 

 but the chief thing is to have the soil open and fertile, and nothing can 

 be better as an addition than well-rotted farmyard manure ; the same 

 should be used for mulching after planting. 



"The distance between the plants should be at least a foot, and, if 

 they are very bushy, fifteen inches apart will be close enough. In order 

 that they may stand firm and upright they should be trodden gently 

 immediately after the roots are covered." 



It is pleasant to see in a well- arranged group of hollies the beautiful 

 gradation of green, sometimes almost harsh in intensity, passing to 

 paler shades with a suspicion of soft grey. We seldom think of the 

 beauty of leaf-colouring, the harmony of shades that the play of light 

 on the stiff vigorous foliage brings out, and the rich diversity in the 

 size and strength of scarlet in the fruits. But the holly has all these 

 virtues, and they add to the enjoyment of a carefully chosen collection. 

 This difference in colour and form is evident in the beautiful natural 

 hybrids which are to be seen at Handsworth, all well-marked variations 

 of the greatest use in the planting of groups in garden and woodland. 



Variegated Hollies. 



When we think of the many miserable variegated trees and shrubs, 

 which are a blot on the garden and landscape, and neglect of the finest 

 variegated hollies, it is sufficient to make the true garden artist weep. 



Ilex Aquifolium argentea (the Silver Hollies). — Several beautiful- 

 leaved hollies may be placed under this heading. They have a creamy 

 colouring, and include some of the most striking of all hollies. Argentea 

 marginata, which is the old Silver Holly, is a variety of very quick 

 growth, hardy, and producing berries freely. 



Argentea pendula is bright in colouring, and graceful in growth, a 

 beautiful weeping holly for the lawn. 



