ht not be that of Rygate;
but leaving this uncertain, and return to the plant, I have often
wonder'd at our curiosity after foreign plants, and expensive
difficulties, to the neglect of the culture of this vulgar, but
incomparable tree; whether we will propagate it for use and defence, or
for sight and ornament.

A hedge of holly, thieves that would invade,
Repulses like a growing palizade;
Whose numerous leaves such orient greens invest,
As in deep Winter do the Spring arrest.{301:1}

Which makes me wonder why it should be reckon'd among the unfortunate
trees, by Macrobius, _Sat._ lib. III. cap. 20. others among the lucky;
for so it seems they us'd to send branches of it, as well as of oak (the
most fortunate, according to the Gentile theology) with their _strenae_
(new-year's 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 many
other about this tree, we still dress up both our churches and houses,
on Christmas and other festival days, with this cheerful green and
rutilant berries.

9. Is there under heaven a more glorious and refreshing object of the
kind, than an impregnable hedge of about four hundred foot in length,
nine foot high, and five in diameter; which I can shew in my now ruin'd
gardens at Say's-Court, (thanks to the Czar of Moscovy) at any time of
the year, glitt'ring with its arm'd and varnish'd leaves? The taller
standards at orderly distances, blushing with their natural coral: It
mocks at the rudest assaults of the weather, beasts, or hedge-breakers,

_Et illum nemo impune lacessit._

It is with us of two eminent kinds, the prickly, and smoother leav'd; or
as some term it, the free-holly, not unwelcome when tender, to sheep and
other cattle: There is also of the white-berried, and a golden and
silver, variegated in six or seven differences; which proceeds from no
difference in the species, but accidentally, and _naturae lusu_, as most
such variegations do; since we are taught how to effect it artificially,
namely, by sowing the seeds, and planting in gravelly soil, mixed with
store of chalk, and pressing it hard down; it being certain, that they
return to their native colour when sown in richer mould, and that all
the fibers of the roots recover their natural food.

10. I have already shew'd how it is to be rais'd of the berries, (of
which there is a sort bears them yellow, and