have to be replaced as often as other kinds of ever- 
greens. It lasts not only for a lifetime but for 
generations. Besides, hollies attract our song 
birds, because they shelter the birds from their 
enemies and from cold winds and also provide food 
in the form of tempting berries. The robins are 
especially fond of holly berries, which they seldom 
attack in the South until after Christmas. 
Then, too, hollies are easy to grow. When well 
established they have long, deep roots to withstand 
drought. They are very hardy, withstanding heat 
and cold, and they do well in almost any kind of 
soil—even poor soil—and in almost any situation. 
Their requirements are simple. They do best in 
good soil, rich in humus. Stump-dirt, woods-earth, 
oak-leaf mold, peat moss, or three year old compost 
of any kind makes them flourish. They like cotton- 
seed meal. The azalea and camellia fertilizers 
(4-8-8, with an acid reaction) are good, but a 6-8-8 
is better. Apply early in the spring atthe rate of 
2 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. and repeat every 4-6 weeks 
until July 1st. Plant in well prepared soil (at least 
4 ft. across), water thoroughly the first season and 
in dry weather, and keep well mulched to a depth 
of three or four inches with leaves, pine straw, peat 
moss or compost (if thoroughly decomposed). 
Keep the weeds pulled out. 
A male plant or so of each variety is needed to 
pollinate the females in order for an annual crop 
of berries, although some hollies, as cornuta, appar- 
ently set some fruit without pollination. Bees carry 
the pollen from wild plants several miles away. Late 
frosts may kill the fruit of unprotected hollies, just 
as other fruits. 
Holly is troubled with only a few pests. For 
scale, use an oil emulsion, as Florida Volk, but only 
half the recommended strength for a summer appli- 
cation, unless you get a summer oil. 
[3] 
