62 IRambles witb IRature Students 



MALE FLOWERS OF YEW. 



THE YEW TREE 



' When the rude natives of this polished land 

 Formed the strong phalanx of their valiant band, 

 With dext'rous hand the bended bow they drew, 

 And shaped their arrows from the dusky yew.' 



FRANCES A. ROWDEN. 



The male blossoms of the yew tree are now fully 

 out, and as a passing breeze shook the branches 

 to-day they sent out clouds of yellow pollen. I never 

 see this happening without recalling Tennyson's in- 

 teresting allusion to the 'smoking' of the yew tree. 



4 O brother, 1 have seen this yew tree smoke, 

 Spring after spring, for half a hundred years.' 



The Holy Grail. 



