6 Yew- Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



being the first who brought the Yew * into fashion, 

 as well for a defence as for a succedaneum to 

 cypress, whether in hedges or pyramids, conic 

 spires, bowls, or what other shapes. ... I do 

 again name the yew, for hedges, preferable for 

 beauty and a stiff defence, to any plant I have 

 ever seen.' 



While perhaps not admiring these birds and 

 beasts, we must, I think, in a measure agree with 

 Loudon, that many old-fashioned gardens have 

 suffered in losing the quaint forms of cropped 

 yews, which added a certain charm to them. 



It was mainly due to the ridicule thrown upon 

 the practice by Addison and Pope that it fell into 

 disuse. Pope derides the fashion for cutting trees 

 into figures. 



' An eminent town gardener,' he says, * has 

 arrived at such perfection, that he cuts family 

 pieces of men, women, or children in trees.' 



' Adam and Eve in Yew, Adam a little shattered 

 by the fall of the tree of knowledge in the great 

 storm ; Eve and the serpent very flourishing. St. 

 George in box, his arm scarce long enough, but 

 will be in a condition to stick the dragon by next 

 April ; a green dragon of the same with a tail of 

 ground-ivy for the present. (N.JB. These two not 

 to be sold separately.) Divers eminent modern 

 poets in bays, somewhat blighted, to be disposed 

 of a pennyworth. A quickset hog, shot up into 



