OLD LEATHER LEAF 
My favorite male Tree. Old leatherleaf has stood without flinching be- 
fore the worst wind and weather that the elements have had to offer. 
Hollies nearby it have often suffered from sleet or gale winds during the 
past sixty years. Its strength lies in the bushy way it grows and in the 
thick leathery quality of its leaves. The foliage is a very superior dark 
green. For many years experimental work has been done to improve the 
female of the specie, but the male has been left to its own. Wild Hollies 
were often used as pollinators. This particular tree has done more than 
any other to awaken interest in male Hollies as landscape specimens. 
BLACK BEAUTY 
The male with the darkest green foliage. To those familiar with Holly, 
well fed trees of this variety seem almost unnaturally dark—a black-green 
that also has the advantage of being glossy, usually for a period extend- 
ing through December. This gloss seems to be an overflowing of health that 
follows the hardening period of the late summer growth. Very cold 
weather, when it comes, tends to dull the gloss. Fully hardy into New 
England, Black Beauty grows quite upright and is generally very dense. 
It is not a fast grower. 
OLD HALE AND HEARTY 
Our largest leaf and most vigorous growing male. Old Hale and Hearty 
surely does have a large leaf. Occasionally, near the center of the tree, 
where ‘‘suckers’’ sometimes develop in full shade, we will find a five-inch 
leaf. While this by no means is the expected size it may be said in all 
fairness that the leaves on this tree are larger than the average of leaves 
on most trees. Growth is quite rapid, so rapid at times that the young are 
a bit thin in appearance. Old Hale and Hearty may be pruned as the 
parent is, to a beautifully dense specimen, or may be left lightly pruned 
to form a tall, loose, informal tree. 
TORCHBEARER 
A Holly that holds its branches stiffly about it like a man with many 
arms holding many torches. The berries are borne in great clusters on a 
mature tree, and from a distance these clusters look for all the world like 
torches. Torchbearer grows quite rapidly and usually matures to a great 
broad specimen that is quite impressive. 
OLD FAITHFUL 
A truly reliable bearer. We have never known the parent tree to be 
without a heavy crop of berries. An extremely dense, columnar tree with 
small delicate leaves that are surprisingly tough. The young of this tree 
will sometimes bear when only two years old and often bear when only 
three years old. Old Faithful branches well when young and does not 
grow in an awkward manner. It is a favorite among nurserymen who 
wish to sell the trees as small specimens at plant markets, etc. The foliage 
is a good green. The tree seems to be liked by almost everyone. 
CHRISTMAS SPRAY 
One of the best Hollies to plant in Holly orchards. Liked by the com- 
mercial grower because its sprays grow long and lie flat in the box. The 
