EVERGREEN ORNAMENTAL TREES. 239 



ceeded by beautiful scarlet berries, about half or three-fourths 

 of an inch in diameter, which are open at the end, where a 

 small nut or seed is deposited. These berries have an ex- 

 quisitely delicate, waxen appearance, and contribute highly 

 to the beauty of the tree. 



The growth of this tree, even in its native soil, is by no 

 means rapid. In twenty years, says Loudon, it will attain 

 the height of fifteen or eighteen feet, and it will continue 

 growing for one hundred years ; after which it becomes 

 comparatively stationary, but will live many centuries. 



When young, the Yew is rather compact and bushy in its 

 form ; but as it grows old, the foliage spreads out in fine hor- 

 izontal masses, the outline of the tree is irregularly varied, 

 and the whole ultimately becomes highly venerable and pic- 

 turesque. When standing alone, it generally shoots out into 

 branches at some three or four feet above the surface of the 

 ground, and is ramified into a great number of close branches. 



(Fig. 23. The English Yew.] 



In England, it has been customary, since the earliest set- 

 tlement of that island by the Britons, to plant the Yew in 

 churchyards ; and it is therefore as decidedly consecrated to 



