CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Introduction i 



CHAPTER I 



Taxus baccata, L. — Varieties — Etymology of Yew — 



Epithets 19 



CHAPTER n 



Geographical distribution — Indigenous — Geological re- 

 mains — Sparse distribution in England — Reasons 

 for this ......... 26 



CHAPTER III 



Age of yew-trees — Considered slow-growing — Mode of 

 estimating age — Traditional accounts — Age of con- 

 tiguous buildings — De Candolle's method of cal- 

 culating age — Rings of growth — In young trees 

 correct — In old, erroneous — Rejuvenescence — In- 

 crease by welding of young shoots — Variable growth 35 



CHAPTER IV 



Rate of growth — Point of measurement — Sir R. Chris- 

 tison's view — Objections — Instances — Measure- 

 ments of trees of known asje — Increase at fixed 



