T. baccata 



Evelyn records an instance of a family of three 

 children being killed by being given a liquid 

 prepared from Yew leaves for some childish 

 complaint. These children were unwell, and 

 neighbours recommended a decoction of Yew 

 leaves as a remedy. The first mixture that was 

 given was prepared from dried leaves, and this 

 appears to have done the children no harm ; two 

 nights later a second mixture was made from 

 fresh leaves ; an hour or two later the children 

 were attacked by sickness, and within a few 

 hours all died. 



The wood of the Yew is very strong, hard, 

 tough, and durable. It was at one period in 

 demand for making cogs for mills, axletrees for 

 carts, posts, etc., whilst it was of considerable 

 repute for inlaying work. It is one of the most 

 durable woods known, and posts placed in wet 

 ground last longer than Oak. The use, how- 

 ever, for which the wood of the Yew attained 

 its greatest popularity was for the making of 

 bows for archery purposes. Used for this pur- 

 pose it has had a great deal to do with European 

 history, as the bow was one of the principal 

 weapons in ancient warfare. At the battle of 

 Hastings, William The Conqueror's Archers 

 had a great deal to do with the defeat of the 

 Saxons, whilst we read that King Harold lost 

 his life through being shot in the eye with an 

 arrow. A few years later William II. was killed 



'75 



