OF FOREST-TREES. 159

not be that of Rygate ; but leaving this uncertain, and return to Chap. VI.the Plant, I have often wondered at our Curiosity aster foreign Plants,and expensive ‘Difficulties, to the Neglect: of the Culture of this vul-gar, but incomparable Tree; whether we will propagate it for Dfeand Defence , or for Sight and Ornament.

3 A Hedge of Holly, Theeves that would invade,

Repulses like a growing Palisade;

Whose numerous Leaves such Orient Greens investAs in deep Winter do the Spring arreft.

Which makes me wonder why it should be reckoned among the unfor-tunate Trees, by Macrobius, Sat. Lib. iii. Cap. xx. Others among theLucky ; for so it seems they used to fend Branches of it, as well as ofOak (the most fortunate , according to the Gentile Theology) with theirStrena (New-Years Gifts) begun (as Symachus tells us) by K. Tatius,almost as old as Rome her self.

But to say no more of these superstitious Fopperies, which are manyother about this Tree, we still dress up both our Churches and Houses,on Christmas and other Festival Days, with this cheerful green andrutilant Berries.

9. Is there under Heaven a more glorious and refreshing Object ofthe Kind, than an impregnable Hedge of about four hundred Foot inLength, nine Foot high , and five in Diameter ; which I can shew inmy now ruined Gardens at Say’s-Court (thanks to the Czar of Most-covy) at any Time of the Year, glittering with its armed and varnishedLeaves ? The taller Standards at orderly Distances, blushing withtheir natural Coral: It mocks at the rudest Assaults of the Weather ,

Beasts, or Hedge-breakers,

Et ilium nemo impune laceffit.

It is with us of two eminent Kinds, the prickly , and smoother leaved ;or, as some term it, the Free-Holly, not unwelcome, when tender, toSheep and other Cattle : There is also of the White-berried, and aGolden and Silver, variegated in six or seven Differences, which pro-ceeds from no Difference in the Species , but accidentally, and NatureLufu, as most such Variegations do • since we are taught how to effectit artificially, namely, by sowing the Seeds, and planting in gravellySoil, mixed with store of Chalk, and pressing it hard down ; it beingcertain, that they return to their native Colour when sown in richerMould, and that all the Fibres of the Roots recover their natural Food.

10. I have already shewed how it is to be .raised of the Berries (ofwhich there is a Sort bears them Tellow, and propagate their Colour )when they are ready to drop, this only omitted, that they would firstbe freed from their tenacious and glutinous Mucilage by being washed,and a little bruised, then dried with a Cloth ; or else bury them as youdo the Tew and Hips ; and let our Forester receive this for no com-mon Secret, and take notice of the Effect : If you will sow them inthe Berry, keep them in dry Sand till March ; remove them also af-ter three or four Years ; but if you plant the Sets (which is likewise

— Mala surta hominum densis mucronibus arcensSetururst descndit inexpugftabilis Hortum; /

Exornatque lirnul, tott> fpe&abilis anno, ^

Ei numcro, & vividi folioruni lute niteatum.

Coui K I pi 6.

a com-