334 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



solemn, but in trim gardens they want grace, and, like Perilla nan- 

 kinensis in the parterre, have a funereal air. But the yew makes a 

 first-rate dividing fence, and serves admirably for shelter. It may 

 be cut back quite to the stem, even when very aged, and if at ail 

 right at the root will break again freely, and soon clothe itself with 

 a stubby growth. But many of the varieties of the yew are superb 

 garden trees ; the common Irish, T. b.fastigiata, for example, adds 

 much to the finish and sharp precision of a formal flower garden, 

 and is a good accompaniment to terrace walks. Another variety 

 well adapted for the same purpose is that called nigra, which is 

 almost black, and if kept to a close distaff or spindle shape has a 

 very peculiar and formal appearance, T. b. elegantissima is so 

 richly variegated with gold-yellow that throughout the summer it 

 shines in the shrubbery almost as brightly as the double furze, and 

 is invaluable for pot culture for winter furnishing, though as the 

 winter advances the shoots of the preceding season gradually acquire 

 a green hue, and by the time the new growth commences there is 

 scarcely a trace of variegation to be seen. It is, however, soon 

 renewed, and is equal in effectiveness to the variegation of any tree 

 in our gardens. There is also a silvery-hued variety, and another 

 gold variety of the fastigiate form. T. b. Dovastoni " Dovaston's 

 yew," is exceedingly graceful, the principal branches being hori- 

 zontal, and the branchlets quite drooping. 



The collector will find plenty more for his amusement, but those 

 named are the most distinct and generally useful. There are two 

 more yews deserving of a word of praise here. T. canadensis is of a 

 lighter green than the common yew, and altogether more slender, 

 and rather pendant in habit. It is a pretty tree, and has the 

 excellent quality of thriving in the deepest shade under the drip of 

 large trees. It has been well proved in this respect at Stoke 

 JNewington, where it has grown finely under the wide-spreading 

 branches of horse-chesnuts, deprived of rain and light all the 

 summer long. But a still more remarkable tree in this respect is 

 T. adpressa, which forms a low-spreading table-shaped head, the 

 leafage a beautiful bluish-black green, very glossy and elegant. 

 No amount of shade appears to injure this ; indeed, we have one 

 tree which has been overgrown and overspread by a vigorous 

 deodar, the heavy branches of which literally lay upon it and bury 

 it in darkness. Yet when the branches of the deodar are lifted, the 

 beautiful growth of T. adpressa is seen to be as perfect as that of 

 other specimens close by which are fully exposed to daylight. The 

 savin juniper has the same property. Such trees probably would 

 thrive in railway tunnels. S. H. 



