114 ORNAMENTAL GARDEXIXQ. 



THE YEW. Taxus. C. H. 



A genus of evergreens, with handsome, generally dark- 

 green foliage, that are very popular in England, but are 

 not so reliable in our climate, owing to the injury the 

 foliage is apt to receive from the sun in winter. Partic- 

 ularly fine for cemetery planting. 



The English Yew {T. baccata) is a handsome bush, 

 densely branched and can be trimmed to any shape, C. 

 The American Yew or Ground Hemlock (var. Canadensis) 

 is brought under the foregoing spscies by Prof. Gray; per- 

 fectly iiardy, of dwarf, spreading habit, and growing 

 readilr in the shade. There is also a variegated-leaved 

 form of this, with the young shoots marked with yellow. 



Of other fine varieties may be named Dovaston's or 

 Weeping Yew (var. Dovastoni), with pendulous, strag- 

 gling branches, and long dark leaves ; one of the hard- 

 iest. Beautiful Yew (var. elegantiasima), of erect, rapid 

 growth, and foliage marked with yellow. Erect Yew 

 (var. erecta), one of the hardiest and finest, with slender 

 branches and small, shinmg, dark leaves. Fox's Dwarf 

 Yew (var. nana), a diminutive form, with handsome, 

 very dark leaves, H. The Golden Yew (var. aurea), 

 with gold-colored foliage ; the Irish Yew (var. fastigi- 

 ata), an upright grower, with very dark foliage, and of 

 which there are also several sub-varieties. 



The Japanese Yew ( T. adjnessa) is one of the hard- 

 iest, most beautiful, and least liable to receive injury 

 from the sun in winter of the entire genus ; of low, 

 spreading form, with short dark-green leaves, H. Upright 

 Japan Yew (var. stricta) is a variety of the above, of 

 erect habit, but less hardy. The Abrupt-pointed Yew 

 ( T. cuspidata) is a distinct and handsome species from 

 Japan, with large, glossy, dark-green leaves, and com- 

 pact habit, one of the hardiest. 



The Japan Yew or Podocarpus {Fodocarjms Japon- 



