OLD HEAVY BERRY 
ILEX OPACA 
Actual Photograph, Opposite. 
People often point out old landmarks in Burlington, N. J., settled in 
1677. Seldom shown, but of more interest to me, are a few old Hollies 
scattered about the country nearby. Years ago one especially worth- 
while was called OLD HEAVY BERRY by the boys of the neighborhood. 
Sturdy as an oak, this Holly has lived through much because of 
those boys. When quite young, the whole top was cut off and carried 
away one Christmas Eve. Several times it has had all its limbs cut back 
to stubs, the last time only six years ago. Many of our fine old Hollies 
have been destroyed by ruthless cutting, but this old tree possesses so 
much vigor that is seems hardly to have been hurt at all—it just keeps on 
growing. 
When I first saw OLD HEAVY BERRY a dozen years ago, I immedi- 
ately felt that it had more character than any Holly I had ever seen. 
Since then I have stood under it many, many times and its beauty grows 
on me. It has large, heavy dark leaves. Berries seem to form on every 
twig. The structure, more like oak than Holly, is most interesting and 
when I get cuttings I just climb up, for all limbs will bear me (194 pounds). 
My first effort to buy met with a decided “No!” and as the years went 
by I tried so many times that the owner finally said: “You could grow a 
Holly in less time than you have bothered me about this one.” Perse- 
verance won and I bought what has proved, through the years, to be 
one of the best Hollies in America. 
Help save Holly! Do not buy branches at Christmas that have 
been torn from native trees. Grow your own! 
