Holly, Yew and Box 



by its absence from the level plains of Russia, its 

 habitat in that country being the mountainous 

 regions of the Crimsea and Caucasus. It is 

 usually described as a solitary tree, a description 

 warranted by its being found singly or in small 

 groups in woods or forests of other trees rather 

 than composing woods or forests itself. 



When allowed to grow naturally in open 

 ground, it forms a many branched tree with a 

 short, stout trunk and large head, and may be any- 

 thing up to 40 or 50 feet in height. When grow- 

 ing amongst other trees, however, it is drawn up 

 with a single trunk to a height of from 50 to 80 

 feet. Trees that have been drawn up in this 

 manner, and are afterwards given light and space 

 for development, form very handsome specimens, 

 and it is quite probable that many of the fine old 

 Yews now standing in isolated positions, have, at 

 some earlier period of their existence, formed 

 part of a wood. The timber of the Yew is very 

 tough and durable, and, on account of its slow 

 growth, very compact. It has been made use 

 of by cabinet-makers and others, but all other 

 uses are insignificant compared with its value in 

 ancient times for the making of bows. 



The bark is of a reddish-brown colour, and 

 peels off annually in flakes, in a similar manner 

 to the Plane-tree. The leaves are small, linear, 

 flattened, and of a very deep shade of green, 

 which, together with the density of the foliage, 



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