PREFACE 



SOME years ago I commenced an inquiry into 

 certain points bearing on peculiarities in the rate 

 of growth, and having relation to the age, of yew- 

 trees. Since then the investigation has been con- 

 tinued and extended. A large amount of material 

 has thus been accumulated, which, it is thought, 

 may be of future as well as present interest, and 

 which should not, therefore, be allowed to die. 

 This record of the most notable trees in Great 

 Britain and Ireland is sent forth with the addition 

 of much interesting matter, kindred to the subject, 

 which has been found scattered in many publica- 

 tions, and is now collated with, I trust, due acknow- 

 ledgment of all the sources of information. The 

 account of Scottish yews has been largely taken 

 from Mr. Hutchison's paper. 1 Of the greater 

 number of English trees comparatively few are at 

 all known, and even of these no collected notice 



1 'Old and Remarkable Yew-trees in Scotland.' 



