— es —— | 
in the old saying about not being able to see 
the forest for the trees. 
Now I wish I could tell you that my troubles 
disappeared like magic, but the fact is that they 
seemed to multiply and again I almost gave up. 
I could not get rid of the feeling that somehow 
the solution would be found by working with na- 
ture, so I spent more and more time in the woods 
and learned much about the growth habit of 
Hollies. 
Only after months did I feel it worth while to 
try transplanting to my farm again and the very 
first tree proved most important for with it came 
success. It still seems strange as I write this, 
more than fifty years later, that one little tree 
could do so much to change utter failure to a 
lifework of pleasure and profit. 
DEER LED TO SUCCESS 
I want to tell you how I found this little tree 
which grew deep in the woods way beyond the 
beaten path. Several times during my walks I 
saw a dog chase a deer and this always occurred 
at about the same hour late in the afternoon so I 
formed the habit of looking for them. Nevertheless, 
I was surprised and startled when they crossed 
my path one day not more than an arm’s length 
away. Neither seemed to see me and both dis- 
appeared like magic seconds later. 
Following their trail I came to a thicket of wild 
grapevines, catbriars and other shrubs. A tun- 
nel extended into this mass that was about three 
feet wide and only a little higher. I entered on 
my hands and knees and have never been able 
to figure out how a buck with horns managed to 
speed through with a dog at his heels. After 
crawling through this tunnel I followed the deer 
trail for quite a long distance but stopped short 
when I spied the most attractive Holly I had ever 
seen and made up my mind on the spot that some 
day I would move it to my farm. 
The finding of this little tree should have made 
me very happy but things did not work out that 
way. I was on pins and needles for months be- 
cause I wanted it at my home where I could see 
it every day but hesitated to transplant for fear 
I might hurt or even kill this wonderful tree as I 
had dozens of others in former years. Father 
found fault with me for neglecting farm work and 
mother declared I must be in love which I did not 
deny, nor did I tell my brothers and sisters that 
