Some Holly growers suggest the use of sulfate 
ammonia or some chemical nitrate. If the right 
quantity of these is used they are all right, but 
used too heavily they often cause harm. A Holly 
tree is too valuable to fool with. Use leafmold, cow 
mere (must be three years old) and cottonseed 
meal. 
9. Should Holly Be Watered 
Every Day? 
No. Use plenty of leafmold as suggested in an- 
swer to question two. Use lots of water when plant- 
ing, and then once or twice a week until established. 
Do not “sprinkle,” but soak when you water. 
10. How Fast Will My 
Holly Grow? 
If your Holly is planted as previously suggested 
you will be surprised to see how fast it will grow. 
A ten-foot Holly will become a real big tree in 
five or six years. It will grow from a foot to eight- 
een inches annually. In the wild, Hollies vary, of 
course, but many do not grow more than two inches 
a year. Poor ground has much to do with this. 
In connection with the above I would like to 
mention the fact that Holly, even in the nursery, 
does grow slowly during the first few years. Then, 
too, as a little tree it is seldom bushy, compact or 
shapely. Starting with the long time it takes to 
germinate a Holly seed—two years—the grower 
transplants the seedlings or rooted cuttings several 
times, cutting back the tops severely, so that it is 
often seven years or more before the nurseryman 
has a two-foot specimen Holly ready for you. 
After your Holly has been brought through this 
slow, formative period it seems to suddenly find 
itself and develop quickly into a thing of real 
beauty. 
11. How Long Will My 
Holly Live? 
Every Holly you plant ought to live for years 
and become more interesting and valuable each year. 
It has few diseases and insects bother it but little. 
One hundred years is not an uncommon age for 
Holly and there are many trees in south Jersey 
much older. Most of these trees are off the beaten 
path and seldom seen by tourists. Some of them 
are truly a beautiful sight each winter with their 
