242 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



for bows. In ancient times, when bows and arrows were 

 the chief weapons of destruction in war, the bows made of the 

 Yew tree were vaUied by the ancient Britons above all oth- 

 ers. According to the Arboretum Brittanicum, in Switzerland, 

 where this tree was scarce, it was formerly forbidden, under 

 heavy penalties, to cut down the Yew for any other purpose 

 than to make bows of the wood. The Swiss mountaineers 

 call it " William's tree," in memory of William Tell. 



The Yew, like the Holly, makes an excellent evergreen 

 hedge — close, dark green, and beautiful when clad in the 

 rich scarlet berries. We desire, however, rather to see this 

 tree naturalized in our gardens and lawns as an evergreen 

 tree of the first class, than in any other form. Judging from 

 specimens which we have growing in our own grounds, we 

 should consider it quite hardy in any latitude south of Al- 

 bany, New- York. And although it is somewhat slow in its 

 growth, yet, like many other evergreens, it is as beautiful 

 when a small bush or a thrifty young tree, as it is venerable 

 and picturesque, when ages or even centuries have witness- 

 ed its never fading verdure. It appears to grow most vigor- 

 ously and thrive best, on a rich and»heavy soil, and in situ- 

 ations rather shaded than exposed to a burning sun. 



There are several beautiful varieties of the Yew, [Taxus 



baccata,) cultivated in the nurseries ; the Irish Yew, ( T. b. 



fastigiata,) remarkable for its scattered foliage, and very 



handsome upright growth, and the Yellow berried Yew, 



(T. b.fructo-Jiava^) are the most ornamental. 



The North American Yew, (T. canadensis^) is a low 

 trailing shrub, scarcely rising above the height of four or 

 six feet, though the branches extend to a considerable dis- 

 tance. In foliage, berries, etc., it so strongly resembles the 



