402 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARROniCULTUIlAL SOCIETY. 



were, in all their stony parts, but putting forth afresh, i'loni time 

 to time, new living members at their still active extremities. The 

 rocky coral-branch, the hard woody tissue, outlive and su[)port 

 many generations of polypes or foliage. What is most plastic and 

 l)rotoplasmic within us perishes easily, while the mere dead, 

 mineralized, bony skeleton persists and endures for centuries 

 upon centuries." 



There are many varieties of the yew to be found in cultivation. 

 What is well known as the " Irish Yew " — Taxus haccata fasligata 

 — retains its fastigiate habit under all circumstances, rendering it 

 quite distinct. It seems to have been originally discovered ou a 

 mountain near Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland, whence it 

 has been called the "Florence Court Yew." It has been widely 

 disseminated, and is now found in almost every district of Britain. 

 Another variety is Taxus haccata jn'ociunhens, a low growing, 

 trailing shrub or bush, and resembling a stunted variety of the 

 common yew, or probably the Taxus Canadensis, with which 

 it seems to be closely allied, if it is not identical. Taxus haccata 

 erecta, the " Neidpath Yew," is an upright growing variety, and is 

 said to have been originally propagated from an old tree of very 

 distinct and peculiar habit growing at the old castle from whence 

 it takes its name, near Peebles, on the banks of the Tweed. Taxus 

 haccata fructu-luteo, a variety which is not at all common in Scot- 

 land, was originally found in 1817 in an old orchard near Glas- 

 nevin, Dublin, but was lost sight of for years, until in 1833 it 

 was again discovered in the grounds of Clontarf Castle, near Dublin. 

 It is a fine variety, very like the common yew, but distinguished 

 by its yellow berries, and is a beautiful object when in fruit, con- 

 trasted with the common variety with its bright coral red berries. 

 Taxus haccata aurea is one of the most beautiful and persistent 

 of golden foliaged conifers, and is highly prized by the ornamental 

 planter. Taxus haccata Dovastonii, a fine pendulous variety, which 

 contrasts effectively with the erect growing kinds, originated about 

 one hundred years ago at Westfelton, near Shrewsbury. Various 

 other species and varieties are employed in the decoration of lawns 

 and shrubberies ; the yew tribe being most accommodating and 

 effective for that purpose. 



