HOW OLD DO HOLLIES HAVE TO BE TO BEAR BERRIES? 
Varieties of Holly (raised from rooted cuttings) are apparently sex- 
ually as old as the parent tree from which the slip was taken. They 
do not have to "grow up” before berrying and can berry at most any 
size from a few inches on up. Each variety description contains informa- 
tion as to the steadiness of berrying. This applies to specimens at least 
four to six feet of bushy height. Smaller sizes of these varieties will ber- 
ry less predictably but will berry often enough to please most everyone. 
Please then do not be afraid to buy small Hollies for fear of not having 
berries. When buying potted Hollies one of the best ways is to buy 
a half dozen or so. Then the odds are such that surely one or two of 
them should berry each year no matter how small they are. 
Hollies raised from seed (berry), on the other hand, have to “grow 
up” before they can blossom or berry at all. Some wild seedling Hollies 
are as tall as the house before they berry the first time. Thus by all 
means avoid the purchase of seedlings or unnamed Hollies due to the 
sex and berry problem. 
HOLLIES ARE EASY TO PRUNE 
Healthy Hollies need pruning for about the same reason that we 
trim fingernails or hair. The tree will look neater if trimmed yearly. 
This fact is ideally adapted to the desire of most Holly owners to cut 
Christmas greens from their trees. Pruning should be done only in the 
late fall, winter and early spring months. Limbs should be cut clean with 
pruners or saw. Never break limbs for breaks cause large scars that 
sap the energy of the tree. 
Do not be afraid to prune Hollies. Pruning improves the next year’s 
appearance in most all cases. Hollies are amazingly versatile and may 
be cut to the ground without serious injury, for they will sprout again as 
a bushy tree. Thus Hollies that have become too large may be severely 
pruned back to a mere skeleton framework of trunk and limb stubs. 
Such Hollies will clothe themselves with new foliage and become bushy 
trees in a few years. Loose scraggly Hollies may be cut back a foot 
or two all over and will sprout in many places the following year to be- 
come more dense and attractive. Hollies may be pruned at any point 
upon the twig or limb thus are indeed “easy to prune.” 
INVITATION 
We trust that you have enjoyed these pages and cordially invite you 
to visit our Holly Farm, to correspond with us, to buy our trees and sup- 
plies, for it is thru your patronage that this type of educational adver- 
tising is made possible. 
Earle Dilatush’s Holly Farm 
U. S. HIGHWAY 130 1'%4 Miles South of ROBBINSVILLE, N. J. 
