The Charlotte Democrat., 1896-02-28
Holly and MistletOe.

4
superstition surrounding both OF these
popular plants are likewise generally
known. 1t is the growth and habit, par
ticularly of the mistletoe, that will be
| interesting and new to many of its ad-
| mirers.
| The mistIetoe (Viscvm album, OF the
natural order Loranthaceg, is true par
asitical plant. At no period of it's exis-
tence does it derive any nutriment from
the soil or decayed bark. 1t lives on the
stems, branches, and trunks oftrees.
| Tradition almost inseparably links the
mistletoe with the oak, but to day it is
/ very rarely found in that tree. 1t grows
most commonly On apple trees, and sell
dom, if ever, on the pear tree Next to
the apple, it seems to favor the poplar,
| lime, horse chestnut and white thorn.
Occasionally it is found on the maple,
willcw, sycamore and acacia. Never,
spontaneously at least, does it appear on
the birch, beech, holly, walnut, and
elder.
The roots penetrate into the wood of
the tree, but mainly to absorb water, the
crude sap which is being carried through
the wood of the tree to its leaves. The
shoots of the mistletoe, and even the
roots fourishing in the wood, are rich in
chlorophyll.
| Wrapped in mysticism, little wonder
that the plant was for a long time sup
posed to have been propagated in it's mats
ural state by bird, the "mistle thrush"
which fed on it's berries. For years it's
artificial culture was regarded as an i'm.
possibility. Science has proven that it's
propagation is not limited to spontaneit
The bruised berries are exceedingly glut-
nous A vlscid mistletoe berry sticks to
the rough branch of tree; the large ems
bryo germines. Its root apex turns
away from the lig ht to the branch. The
radicale bores through the orter (bark)
and works its way through the .cambium
Cthe viscid, secretive tlayer between bark
and woody to the wood of the branch of
the tree. In time roots for the base of
| the mistletoe stem grow within the soft,
living, corteG. Then from these base
toward the wood of the tree (host.plant).
! Teese lateral roots penetrate through
the cambium layer Of the wood, and are
surrounded by the growing woody layers;
they become elongated at the bases
and constitute the tsuckers" of the miss
tletoe.
mstletoe bears little semblance to the
The adaptive popularity of'the sucker is
striking. Its growing point is converted
into per manent tissue, while its growth
in length occurs in the cambium layer of
the tree branch, Finally, the viscun
roots losing themselves in the corteu of
the branch, are rapidly multiplied. From
LIZ ioh hn
ter of the tree and come forth into the
light. From these, again, new shoots
pierce the eorte1 and grow and multiply
within the cambium layer of the branch.
In this manner an entire tree from crown
to base, may be completely covered with
dense growth of mistletoe.
1 The common holly { iler aqu!folivm0 is
not emarkable in its habit. It is abun.
dainty diffused, growing in both warm
and cold climes. 1t is found in most
countries of Europe and in many of Asia
and America. In Southern England
it luxurates, also in the Highlands OF
Scotland. Indeed, q world famed holly
hedge is in Scotland, at Tyningham, near
Dunbar.
When young holly is of singularly slow
growth. After it has attained consider
able size it cannot be transplanted with
safety. But for this it would make an
admirable hedge plant. When undis.
turbed and not destroyed by cutting the
top shoot, it grows into large, stately
tree The holly tree is known to have
attained height of go feet. Trees of &c
and 40 feet, with trunks of considerable
}size; are common in England. Once es'
, tNblished, it is vigorous and hardy-a tree
of marvellous longevity.
The holly will grow in any soil not toe
wet. 1t thrives best in dry deep loan
!, 1t is propagated from seed. The berries
: are gathered in November and mixed
!. with sand in heaps in the open garden
; 10 this state they are left until the ber'
ries are divested of the pulp. This pro-
cess extends until the following autumn
|. The seeds are then gathered and sown in
beds, but usually do not vegetate unit
the second year.
Until recently the enormous quantity
of holly used in this country was all im'
: ported from Europe. 1t is now exten-
sively cultivated on this side of the At
lantic, and represents most propitiou'
Industry.
q The timber of the holly is compact
e { even-grained and very hard. It is almos
as white as ivory, and stains beautifully
in perfect imitation of ebony. The Woo
5 is we'll adapted for many uses in the arts
z and is much used by cabinet makers il
y forming what are technically called string
u and borders in ornamental work 1t i
also in demand by tho makers of musica
Q instruments. Next to the wood of th
box and pear, it is the best wood for en-
craving purposes. Its slownes of growtl
renders it an expensive wood. Besides
r the wood being highly retentive of it
sap, it warps ready, and must be thor
3 oughly dried and seasoned before it
fit for use.
=. Holly bark is rich in viscid matter
This is macerated in water, fermenteC
9 separated from the 6bers and forms bird
lime. Both bark and leaves are used fo
medicinal purposes; the berries are poi
~ sonous.- Popular Science.
Z. The Ideal Panacea-
B. Jomes T.. Francis Alderman. Chicago say