TREES IN NATURE loi 



in his days, ** since the use of bows is laid 

 aside amongst us," the propagation of the 

 yew-tree, or eugh-tree as he spells it, is ''quite 

 forborn". Writing for utilitarian ends, he 

 links the yew and the box together, and says 

 of the former that "the neglect of it is to be 

 deplored ; seeing that (besides the rarity of 

 it in Italy and France, where but little of it 

 grows) the barrenest grounds and coldest of 

 our mountains might be profitably replenished 

 with them. I say, profitably, for besides the 

 use of the wood for bows the forementioned 

 artists in box most gladly employ it. And for 

 the cogs of mills, posts to be set in moist 

 grounds, and everlasting axle-trees, there is 

 none to be compared with it, likewise for the 

 bodies of lutes, thearbas, etc., yea, and for 

 tankards to drink out of, whatever Pliny 

 report of its shade, and fatal fruit in Spain, 

 France and Arcadia." 



The shade and fruit of the yew he declares 

 himself to have tried frequently, without any 

 deadly or noxious results ; and his desire that 

 the tree shall be more extensively grown draws 

 him on into eloquent praise both of it and of 

 the box on quite other than utilitarian grounds. 



