GENUS I.

TA'XUS L. THE YEW. Lin. Syst. Dice'cia Monadelphia.

Identification. Lin. Gen., 532.; Juss, 412.; Fl. Br., 1086.; Tourn., t. 362.; Lam., t. 829.; Gærtn. t. 81.; N. Du Ham., 1. p. 61.; Rich. Mém. Conif., p. 131. t. 2.

Derivation. From toxon, a bow; being formerly much used in making them: or from taxis, arrangement; from the leaves being arranged on the branches like the teeth of a comb: or from toxicum, poison; though Pliny says that poison (toricum) was so named from this tree, which was considered poisonous. The derivation of the term Yew is supposed to be from the Celtic word iw, sometimes pronounced if, and signifying verdure; alluding to the yew being an evergreen; and this will also explain the French name, if.

Description, &c. Evergreen low trees, with numerous, mostly linear, and entire leaves; natives of Europe and North America.

1. T. BACCATA L The berried, or common, Yew

Identification. Lin. Sp. Pl., 1472.; Willd. Sp., 4. p. 856.; Fl. Br., 1086.; Eng. Bot., t. 746.; Hook. Scot., 290.; Lightf., 626.; Fl. Dan., t. 1240.; Bull. Fr., t. 156; Dicks. H. Sicc. Fasc., 16. 6.; Ehrh. Arb., 50.; N. Du Ham., 1. p. 62.; Eng. FL, 4. p. 252.; Hook. Br. Fl., p. 434.; Mackay Fl. Hibern. p. 259.; Lindl. Synops., p. 241.

Synonymes. Táxus, No. 1663., Hall. Hist., 2. p. 322., Raii Syn., 445., Ger. Em., 1370., Bauh. Hist., 1. p 241., Matth. Valgr., 2. p. 444., Cam. Epit., 840.; If, Fr.; Ifenbaum, Ihenbaum, or Eihenbaum, Ger.; Taxo, Ital.; Texo Span.

The Sexes. The yew being almost always raised from seed, the male and female plants may be supposed to be nearly equally distributed, both in natural woods and in artificial plantations. According to Miller and Lamarck, both sexes are sometimes found on the same tree; and the fact will be found confirmed in a future page. As far as we have been able to observe, says White of Selborne, the male tree becomes much larger than the female one. (Nat. Hist. of Selb., ed. 1789.) Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 746.; Fl. Dan., t. 1240.; Bull. Fr., t. 136.; Ger. Emac., 1370. f.; Bauh. Hist., 1. p. 241. f.; Matth. Valgr., 2. p. 444. f.; Cam. Epit., p. 840. f.; N. Du Ham., 1. t. 19.; Blackw., t. 572.: Du Ham. Arb., 2. t. 86.; Oelhaf. Abbild., t. 25, 24.; Gærtn. Fruct., t. 91. f. 6; and the plates of this tree in our last Volume.

Spec. Char., &c. Leaves 2-ranked, crowded, linear, flat. Receptacle of the barren flowers globular. (Smith Eng. Fl.) A tree, indigenous to most parts of Europe; flowering in March and April, and ripening its fruit in September.

Varieties.

T. b. 2 fastigiata; T. fastigiàta Lindl.; T. hibérnica Hook., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; our fig. 1981. of the natural size, and the plate of this tree in our last Volume. The upright, or

Florence Court, Yew; the Irish Yew. -This is a very distinct variety, readily distinguished from the species by its upright mode of growth, and deep green leaves, which are not in ranks like those of the common yew, but scattered, as shown in fig. 1981. All the plants of this variety in cultivation are of the female sex; and the fruit is oblong, and not roundish, as in the common variety. The finest specimens, Mr. Mackay informs us (Fl. Hibern., p. 260.), grow at Comber, in the county of Down, and near the town of Antrim; where they are supposed to have been planted before 1780. This variety was first observed at Florence Court, near which, on the mountains of Fermanagh, our correspondent Mr. Young informs us, the original tree still exists in a healthy and vigorous state. Fig. 1982., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft., is a portrait of one of the trees at Comber, which grows in

the shrubbery of James Andrews, Esq., from a drawing by W. G. Johnson, Esq., of Fortfield, near Belfast, kindly procured for us by Mr. Mackay. The drawing was accompanied by the following description, by Mr. C. J. Andrews,

the son of the proprietor of the tree: -This yew. is 21 ft. high; the diameter of the head is 16 ft. 6 in., and the circumference of the trunk, at I ft. from the ground, is 4 ft. 5 in. "The tree resembles an inverted cone formed of numerous richly foliated tapering branches, of a deep green, and studded, in autumn, with scarlet coral-coloured berries. The head of the tree is formed by numerous branches springing up from a main stem of only 1 ft. 6 in. high. These branches vary much in thickness and height; about ten of the largest

having the diameter of a foot each. Their form and growth are, however, very uniform, being richly encircled with innumerable small plume-like shoots, growing vertically along the main branches, of. about 6 in. in length, and thickly clothed with narrow decussated leaves of about 1 in. in length; and all so feathering the several arms, as to form the lengthened plumes exhibited by the drawing; about fifty of which easily waved sombre plumes form the top of the tree. The exact age of this yew is unknown: it was planted by John Andrews, Esq., father of its present owner; and it has been certainly 50 years in its present situation. This kind of yew is now very generally and extensively planted here in ornamental plantations; and I can trace much of its propagation, even in Dublin, to the trees sent thither as presents by my grandfather. C. J. A., Dublin, Nov. 1836." There are two trees of this variety at Nether Place, near Mauchline, Ayrshire, respecting which the following information has been transmitted to us by Mr. John Davidson, gardener, at Nether Place. "In compliance with your request I have again measured the Irish yews in Mr. Campbell's garden at Nether Place. I cannot ascertain the age of the trees, but I am informed by Miss Campbell, that, about 40 or 50 years ago, they failed at their tops, and were then cut over, which, indeed, appears evident on examining the trunks. There are now 66 upright branches from the one trunk, and 56 upright branches from the other, each measuring from 6 in. to 2 ft. in circumference. In appearance the two trees are exactly alike: the larger is 22 ft. 6 in., and the smaller 20 ft. 8 in. in height; the circumference of the larger head is 66 ft. 9 in., and of the smaller 66 ft. 3 in.; the circumference of the larger trunk is 9 ft., and of the smaller 8 ft.; and the trunk of each tree rises about 2 ft. from the soil before it begins to throw out branches. Both trees are in perfect health. These yews must be of slow growth; since, 10 years ago, I propagated some plants from the old trees, and the greatest progress they have made in that space of time is 5 ft. 6 in. in height." A beautiful drawing of one of these trees, was sent to us by Mr. Davidson, but it came too late to be engraved. One at Balcarras, in Fifeshire, was, in 1834, 15 ft. high. This variety is readily propagated by cuttings put in in autumn in sand, and covered with a hand-glass. It well deserves culture, more especially in small gardens.

T. 6. 3 procumbens; T. procumbens Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; is a low and somewhat trailing shrub, not very common in collections. It is

propagated by layers; and there are plants of it at Messrs. Loddiges's. It appears to be nothing more than a stunted variety of the common yew, and to be identical with the T. canadénsis of Willdenow, and the T. b. minor of the elder Michaux; but, as we have only seen small plants of it and of T. canadensis, we have thought it worth while to keep the latter separate for the present.

T. b. 4 erécta, the upright yew, is a seedling from T. b. fastigiàta, in which the leaves are 2-ranked as in the common yew, but the branches take an upright direction as in the Irish yew. There is a plant in the Horticultural Society's Garden.

■ T. b. 5 fòlüis variegatis Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836, has the leaves variegated with whitish yellow. It is seldom found higher than a large shrub. It is propagated by layers or cuttings, either of the ripened wood put in in autumn, or of the newly formed wood put in în July, and treated like the cuttings of Cape heaths.

T. b. 6 fructo luteo. This variety appears to have been first discovered by Mr. Whitlaw of Dublin, about 1817, or before, growing on the demesne of the Bishop of Kildare, near Glasnevin; but it appears to have been neglected till 1833, when Miss Blackwood discovered a tree of it in Clontarf churchyard, near Dublin. Mr. Mackay, on looking for this tree in 1837, found no tree in the churchyard, but several in the grounds of Clontarf Castle; and one, a large one, with its branches overhanging the churchyard wall, from which he sent us specimens. The tree does not differ, either in its shape or foliage, from the common yew; but, when covered with its berries, it forms a very beautiful object, especially when contrasted with yew trees covered with berries of the usual coral colour. Other Varieties may be selected from beds of seedlings; and it appears that a kind with shorter and broader leaves than usual was formerly propagated in the nurseries. The yew tree, in some situations, is found with spreading branches, not unlike those of a very old spruce fir, and having the spray drooping; but whether this is a true variety, or only a variation, is uncertain. A portrait of a tree of this description, now growing in the garden of J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., at West Felton, near Shrewsbury, will be found in a future page. If the appearance of Mr. Dovaston's tree, which is monacious, be permanent, it well deserves propagation, both on account of its pendulous shoots, and because it is monacious. Ortega states that the yew, which grows wild in different parts of Arragon, flowers in May, June, and July, and ripens its fruit in November; from which it would appear to be a different variety from that of central and northern Europe; because the difference of time between the flowering of the common yew in Paris and Stockholm does not exceed a month. Gleditsch thinks there may be two species; one indigenous to the south of Europe, and the other to the north; founding his opinion upon the circumstance of some_plants being much more tender than others. This is the case even in France, where, according to Du Hamel, many yews were destroyed by the severe frost of 1709; and, according to Malesherbes, many died in his plantations in the winter of 1789. In every case where plants are raised from seed, there will be different degrees of hardiness, as well as variations in other respects; and hence, in a severe season, all the tenderer varieties of an indigenous species may be killed, while all the hardy ones stand uninjured. Description, &c. The yew tree rises from the ground with a short but straight trunk, which, at the height of 3 ft. or 4 ft., sends out numerous spreading branches, forming a dense head, usually, when full grown, from 30 ft. to 40 ft. in height; and always characterised, till the tree attains a great age, by the tuftings and sky outline being pointed or peaked; though, after the tree has begun to decay, these become rounded or stag-headed. The trunk and branches are channeled longitudinally, and are generally rough, from the protruding remains of shoots which have decayed and dropped off. The bark is

smooth, thin, of a brown colour, and scales off, like that of a platanus; the leaves are scattered, nearly sessile, dichotomous (that is, in two lateral rows), linear, entire, very slightly revolute, and about 1 in. long; dark green, smooth and shining above; paler, with a prominent midrib, beneath; terminating in a small harmless point. Flowers axillary, solitary, each from a scaly imbricated bud; the male ones light brown, white with abundant pollen; and the female ones green, resembling, with their scaly bracteas, a little acorn. The stamens vary from 5 to 10, and the divisions of the anthers from 4 to 8. Fruit drooping, consisting of a sweet, internally glutinous, scarlet berry, open at the top, enclosing a brown oval nut, unconnected with the fleshy part. Sometimes this nut is longer than the fleshy cup in which it is embedded; in which case it has the appearance of a small acorn; but, in general, the point of the nut is lower than the rim of the cup. The nut contains a kernel, which is eatable, and has an agreeable flavour like those of the stone pine. The yew is of slow growth; but, in favourable situations, it will attain the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft., or more, in 10 years from the seed. In 20 years, it will attain the height of 15 ft., and it will continue growing for 100 years; after which it becomes comparatively stationary, but will live for many centuries. When drawn up by other trees, or by being planted in masses, it takes somewhat the character of a fir; and may be found, thus circumstanced, with a clear trunk 30 ft. or 40 ft. high. It stoles when cut down under 20 or 30 years of age, but rarely when it is older. The largest tree which we have heard of in England is in the churchyard at Harlington, near Hounslow, where it is 58 ft. high, with a trunk 9 ft., and a head 50 ft. in diameter; and the oldest are at Fountains Abbey, where they are supposed to have been large trees at the time the abbey was founded, in 1132. Fig. 1983. is a portrait of one of these trees, to a scale of 1 in. to 50 ft.; and a portrait of another, to a larger scale, will be given in a future page.

Geography. The yew is indigenous to most parts of Europe, from north lat. 580 to the Mediterranean Sea; and also to the east and west of Asia; and on the supposition that T. canadénsis is only a variety of T. baccata, which we believe to be the case, the common yew is also a native of North America, in Maryland, Canada, and other places. In a wild state, it is confined to shady places, such as the north side of steep hills, or among tall deciduous trees; and is always found on a clayey, loamy, or calcareous soil, which is naturally moist. It sometimes grows in the clefts of dry rocks, but never on sandy plains; and hence it is wanting in the Russian empire, except on the mountains of the Crimea, and in Caucasus. It is found in every part of Britain, and also in Ireland: on limestone cliffs, and in mountainous woods, in the south of England; and on schistous, basaltic, and other rocks, in the north of England: and, in Scotland, it is particularly abundant on the north side of the mountains near Loch Lomond. In Ireland, it grows in the crevices of rocks, at an elevation of 1200 ft.; but at that height it assumes the appearance of a low shrub. According to Templeton, it is rarely, if ever, found there in a state which can be considered truly wild. The yew is rather a solitary than a social tree; being generally found either alone, or with trees of a different species. In England, and also, as Pallas informs us, on Caucasus, it grows under the shade of the beech, which few other evergreens will do.

History, &c. The yew, and its use for making bows, are mentioned by the earliest Greek and Roman authors; and its poisonous properties are pointed out by Dioscorides, Nicander, Galen, Pliny, and others. Theophrastus says (lib. iii.) that the leaves will poison horses. Cæsar mentions that Cativulces, king of the Eburones, poisoned himself with the juice of the yew. (De Bell. Gall., lib. iv.) Suetonius asserts that the Emperor Claudius published an edict, stating that the juice of this tree had a marvellous power in curing the

bite of vipers. Plutarch says that it is venomous when it is in flower, because the tree is then full of sap; and that its shade is fatal to all who sleep under it. Pliny adds to the above, that the berries of the male yew are a mortal poison, particularly in Spain; and that persons have died, who have drunk wine out of casks made of the wood. (Lib. xvi. cap. 10.) Also, that, according to Sextius, in Arcadia it was death to lie beneath the shade of the yew. In more modern times, Mathiolus and J. Bauhin were the first to prove, by positive facts, the poisonous nature of the leaves of the yew; but Father Schoot, a Jesuit, asserted that, if the branches of the tree were dipped in stagnant water, their poison became neutralised. Gerard and L'Obel soon afterwards discovered that the fruit of the yew might be eaten with perfect safety, and that there was no danger in sleeping beneath the shade of the tree. The yew was formerly much valued in Britain, on account of the use made of its wood for bows, this weapon being that principally used by the ancient Britons in all their wars. It was fatal to several British kings; viz., Harold, at the battle of Hastings; William Rufus, in the New Forest; and Richard Cœur de Lion, at Limoges, in France. It was to the skill of the English with the long bow that the conquest of Ireland by Henry II., in 1172, is attributed; and afterwards the victories of Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt. In 1397, Richard II., holding a parliament in a temporary building, on account of the wretched state of Westminster Hall, surrounded his hut with 4,000 Cheshire archers, armed with tough yew bows, to insure the freedom of debate. (Pennant's London, ed. 3., p. 39.) Statutes were passed by many of our early British sovereigns forbidding the exportation of yew wood, and obliging all Venetian and other carrying ships to import 10 bow-staves with every butt of Malmsey or other wine; and, by the 5th of Edward IV., every Englishman dwelling in Ireland was expressly ordered to have an English bow of his own height, made of yew, wych hazel, ash, or awburne; that is, according to some, l'aubour, or the laburnum, which was as much used on the Continent for making bows as the yew was in Britain (see p. 590.); or, according to others, the alder. "As for brasell, elme, wych, and ashe," says Roger Ascham, "experience doth prove them to be mean for bowes; and so to conclude, ewe of all other things is that whereof perfite shootinge would have a bowe made." The last statute that appears in the books, respecting the use of yew for bows, is the 13th of Elizabeth, c. 14., which directs that bow-staves shall be imported into England from the Hanse Towns, and other places. In Switzerland, where the yew tree is scarce, it was formerly forbidden, under heavy penalties, to cut down the tree for any other purpose than to make bows of the wood. The Swiss mountaineers call it William's tree, in memory of William Tell.

The custom of planting yew trees in churchyards has never been satisfactorily explained. Some have supposed that the yew trees were placed near the churches for the purpose of affording branches on Palm Sunday; others, that they might be safe there from cattle, on account of their value for making bows; others, that they were emblematical of silence and death; and others, that they were useful for the purpose of affording shade or shelter to those who came too soon for the service. The subject has occupied the attention of various writers; of whom the last who has taken a comprehensive view of it is J. E. Bowman, Esq., F.L. S., from whose article, in the Magazine of Natural History, vol. i., new series, we give the following abridged abstract :"Many reasons have been assigned for the frequent occurrence of the yew in our churchyards: but it seems most natural and simple to believe that, being indisputably indigenous, and being, from its perennial verdure, its longevity, and the durability of its wood, at once an emblem and a specimen of immortality, its branches would be employed by our pagan ancestors, on their first arrival here, as the best substitute for the cypress, to deck the graves of the dead, and for other sacred purposes. As it is the policy of innovators in religion to avoid unnecessary interference with matters not essential, these, with many other customs of heathen origin, would be retained and engrafted