CHRISTMAS TREES 311 



that form, and ceases to have any resemblance to a " cone." 

 Only the terminal leaf or scale of the group enlarges 

 and develops an ovule, and around this grows an open 

 cup-like protection of the most delicate crimson colour 

 — soft, sweet, and luscious (Fig. 32, c and a). It is as big 

 as a pea, and is largely eaten by birds and by schoolboys ! 

 Yew trees have from time immemorial been planted and 

 cared for in Great Britain, since its wood was formerly 

 greatly valued for making archers' bows. Wild groves 

 of yew trees, once existing, have been largely destroyed. 

 Some of the finest are on the chalk hills of Surrey, 

 where the yew flourishes alongside of the juniper. Very 

 fine yew trees are often found growing, one or two 

 together, in village churchyards, where they have been 

 planted in remote times, just as cypress trees are to-day 

 planted in cemeteries in the South of Europe. Yew 

 trees with trunks from 30 to 50 feet in girth at 12 feet 

 from the ground are known, and it is probable that some 

 are as much as a thousand years old. 



Many varieties of the yew tree occur in these islands. 

 A celebrated variety is that in which the branches are 

 all directed upwards rather than horizontally — a frequent 

 form of variation in trees which more usually have 

 spreading, nearly horizontal branches. This variety is 

 called " fastigiate " (the " fastigiate " condition of the 

 common cypress tree is the one usually cultivated, 

 although there are common varieties with spreading 

 branches), and in the case of the fastigiate yew it is 

 accompanied by a variation in the disposition of the 

 needles or leaves. Instead of being carried right and 

 left in a single row on each side of the young branches, 

 as is usual with yews, the needles are set all round the 

 branch in spiral order (as they are in many conifers). 

 This variety was found growing wild in Co. Fermanagh, 



