Il6 KINDS OF TREES, 



be always kept particularly well fenced. We 

 know, however, of many yew trees without fen- 

 ces in paftures ; and alfo hedges, which are uni- 

 formly browfed on by fheep and cattle. Goats 

 are particularly fond of yew leaves j yet we never 

 knew a bead to die in confequence ; or even met 

 with any perfon who could fay, that they had 

 known a bead to die in confequence of having 

 eaten the leaves of the yew from growing trees or 

 hedges. * 



The Yew is certainly admiffible on the lawn, 



and 



* Mr Marshall, speaking of this matter, says, " It is 

 observable, that, in the extensive yew plantations above 

 mentioned, cattle were admitted with impunity, and still 

 range amongst the stragglers that are left, without any evil 

 consequence. They are browsed to the very bole : Sheep 

 are particularly fond of the leaves ; and, when the ground 

 is covered with snow, will stand upon their hind legs, and 

 devour them as high as they can reach. " 



But, notwithstanding of sheep and goats eating with im- 

 punity the growing leaves, it would be very unsafe to allow 

 this circumstance to induce us to be careless about their 

 eating its leaves when clipped off. Mr Hanbury relates a 

 story of seven or eight cattle having died in consequence of 

 having eaten the half-dried clippings of a yew tree, or 

 hedge, which a gardener had thrown over the wall ; by 

 which it would appear that the leaves and twigs, when 

 dried, or half dried, and when taken into the stomach in 

 considerable quantities, have a very different effect from 

 what tfeey have, whta ttkR m imall quantities when green, 



