734 



THE NATURE BOOK 



antiquity, distinguish it instantly from all 

 other growths. It is venerable from its 

 association with ancient forms of worship, 

 from its frequent occurrence in near 

 neighbourhood of old church buildings, 

 having, it may be, possessed the ground 

 long before their walls were raised. The 

 imagination is stirred at the thought that, 

 without one hour's cessation, through all 

 seasons and all changes of a thousand 

 years and more, many an ancient Yew, 

 vigorous still, has laid its quiet shadow on 

 its own pecuhar spot of sacred earth. 

 The trunk is really a composite structure. 



arranged in a close spiral, assume a 

 combed-out attitude after the manner of 

 those on the Firs. The pohen-bearing 

 flowers, prepared the pre\'ious autumn, 

 are attached in clusters to the under sides 

 of the twigs. Their ripened pollen diifts 



ROMAN CYPRESS. 



Branches growing up from the base have, 

 in course of time, coalesced with the main 

 stem, giving to it its columned character. 

 The bark, which is thin and fibrous, peels 

 off. It is reddish brown in colour. The 

 flattened narrow leaves, soUtary, and 



TRUNK AND UAKK Oi- i KW. 



away in clouds when shaken. Like those 

 of the Larch, and for a similar reason, 

 these pollen grains have no air bladder 

 attachments. The fruit-producing flowers, 

 with very rare exceptions, are on separate 

 trees. They are difficult to find, being, in 

 appearance, no more than minute green 

 buds, whose floral structure can only be 

 seen under the lens. The fruit is an olive 

 green seed with a hard shell, partially 

 enclosed, like a young acorn in its cup, 

 within a brilliant scarlet receptacle, the 

 walls of which contain a sickly-sweet 

 mucus. Numerous birds find this attrac- 

 tive, and by their agency the seeds are 

 dispersed. 



A variet}' of this tree, the Irish Yew, 

 frequently seen in gardens, is of columnar 

 shape. 



Henry Irving. 



