The London Gardener's Chronicle has the following notes on the Holly, to which we add a few notes of the American species :

"The common name Holly, or Holme, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Holign, or, as some writers assert, from the old Norse Hulfr. It has also been called Holy tree, in consequence of its use at this time of the year - a name easily corrupted from Holly. The use of Holly is said to have been ' derived from the Romans, who were in the habit of sending boughs to their friends during the festival of the Saturnalia, which occurred about the same period; and the Oaks being then bare of leaves, the priests obliged the people to bring in boughs of Holly and evergreens.'

"The practice of decorating houses with Holly seems to have been introduced by the early Roman Christians, and this practice became, in course of time, connected with the Christian faith. The prickly character of the Holly leaf is suggestive of its reputed power in driving away evil spirits, and in many parts of the Continent Holly branches are cut on Christmas Eve and hung up in houses and stables for this purpose. The prickles of the foliage, the blood red color of the berries, and the word "holy," from Holly, are all suggestive of Christian associations, and consequently opposed to the witches or evil spirits.

In Germany the Holly is known as Christdorn, as it is supposed to have formed part of the crown of thorns used at the crucifixion of our blessed Lord. Many curious superstitions are connected with the Holly, both in this country and on the Continent, and it is valued according to the abundance or scarcity of the fruit or berries. The present season is an exceptional one for its very large crop, many of the finest trees, and even the clipped hedges in the Royal Gardens, Kew, being thickly studded, and in some cases, laden with dense clusters of bright scarlet berries. The Holly, besides being found in copses and woods in this country, is found also in other parts of Europe, from Southern Norway to Turkey and the Caucasus, and also in Western Asia".

The American Holly is named Ilex opaca, from the opaque or dull color of its leaves, in contrast with the bright shining green of the European species. The berries are also of a duller red. Like the European species, it is polygamous, some trees bearing no berries, and all varying with the season in fertility. In Philadelphia, it is extensively used in Christmas decorations; but the absence of berries is easily supplied by working in those of the deciduous Holly, Ilex verticillata, which is very abundant in the vicinity. The effect is just the same as if the evergreen Holly had borne berries of its own.