174 



FOREST TREES. 



l^rocumbent branches put forth fibres from the under side, rooting in 

 the soil, thus widely extending the plant over the ground. It never 

 forms an upright stem or woody trunk, like the Yew of Europe. 



The Ground Hemlock is the only representative of the Yew Family, 

 in Eastern Canada. In British Columbia T. brevifolia, closely resembles 

 the European T. baccata, and forms a small tree. In England, in the 

 olden time the Yew was valued for its elastic wood and tough roots, of 

 which the Archers made their bows. Though no longer planted for the 

 manufacture of this warlike instrument, there are still many noble 

 specimens of the Yew to be seen in England, in old parks, and in country 

 church yards. As the funereal Cypress marks, the resting places of th? 

 dead in the East, so the Yew still may be seen in lonely country church- 

 yards in England, venerable trees sacred in the eyes of the inhabitants 

 as associated with the dead of ages gone by. 



There is (or fifty years ago there was, to be seen) a very magnificent 

 old Yew tree growing on an open pasture near an old red-brick house, 

 not far from Cheshunt Park, once the residence of Oliver Cromwell, or 

 of one of his sons. A grand lofty spreading tree of picturesque form. 

 This noble tree was supposed to have existed on the spot, where it grew, 

 from the time of the early Plantagenets, it was in its meridian glory 

 during the reigns of the Tudors and Stuarts, and was still green and 

 vigorous shewing no signs of decay in the year 183 1. The noble tree 

 might even at that late date be said to be enjoying a green old age. 



The foliage of the European Yew is a full bright green, lighter on 

 the under side ; the beautiful rosy wax-like cup, in which the purplish 

 green seed lies sheltered, distinguishes the Yew from all others of the 

 Coniferae. 



The Oak Family. 



" Not a prince in nil that proud old world beyond the deep, 



E'er wore his crown as loftily as he 

 Wears the p;reen coronal of leaves. 



With which Thy hand hath graced him." — Jh-yant. 



Whitk Oak. — Quercus alba^ (L.) 



When found growing upon open ground where it has space enough 

 to expand its stout limbs, and form a free rounded and spreading, top, 

 the White Oak presents a noble appearance, not inferior in picturesque 

 beauty to the far-famed English Oak ; this species will grow on 

 .lighter land than suits some other hardwood trees. Whether the wood 

 of the Canadian White Oak is equal in grain and durability to the 

 English Oak, I must leave to the shipwright aud builder to determine. 



