THE IRISH YEWg. 



141 



That dark green ' mournful Yew,' however, serves a purpose in some 

 hearts. Here and there in the Necropolis are to be seen similar 

 monuments breaking the monotony of the grassy ranges. Each of them 

 seems to have a sad story in its custody. The dark Yew has long been 

 adopted as ' a favourite tree for shading the ground of our dead. The 



Fig. 52. The original Irish Yew at Florence Court. 



Irish" Yew, or Florence Court variety of the Yew, has in a special 

 manner become the most prominent and distinguished of the family. 

 The history of the Irish Yew may be of interest to many. Here it is, 

 and I quote from the MS. in possession of Lord Kinnaird 'Above 

 one hundred years ago, Mr. Willis, farmer, of Aghenteroark, in 

 the parish of Killesher, county of Fermanagh, found upon his farm 



