452 THE YEW TREE. 



provision of berries for the birds, at a time when their more ordinary 

 supply of food is considerably on the decrease. 



Charming is the appearance of the yew tree after the sun has 

 passed the autumnal equinox. The delicate crimson of its fruit, 

 with the dark-green leaves behind it, produces an effect so pleasing 

 to the view, that it can scarcely be surpassed by anything which the 

 southern forests present to the lover of botany as he wanders through 

 their mazes. 



The bole of this tree possesses the power of effectually repro- 

 ducing a supply of main branches, after the original ones have been 

 severed from it by the axe of the woodman. At Lupset Hall, the 

 residence of our former honest member for Wakefield, Daniel Gas- 

 kell, Esq., there stands a lordly yew, by far the most gigantic of any 

 in this neighbourhood. At some period of time, now long gone by, 

 all its larger branches have been cut away from the stem. Others, 

 now supply their place ; and by the present healthy aspect of the 

 tree, we may conclude that, at some future day, this second series of 

 main branches will have attained a growth and vigour equal to what 

 the original ones would have presented to us had they been allowed 

 to remain on the tree. 



Ere the combined force of charcoal and saltpetre had enabled us 

 to blow ourselves up instantaneously, we followed the slower process 

 of destroying life by means of the bow made from the yew tree ; 

 and this, to men of moderately sanguinary habits, must, I think, 

 have been sufficiently expeditious ; for we learn, at the hunting-fray 

 of Chevy Chase, that 



" The English archers bent their bows, 

 Their hearts were good and true ; 

 At the first flight of arrows sent, 

 Full threescore Scots they slew." 



The bow from the yew tree was in use by private sportsmen as 

 well as by warriors. In the very old song of The Sow and the Tailor, 

 the latter cries out 



" Wyfe, wyfe, bring me my yewen bow, 

 That I maye shoot the carrion crow." 



Some people are of opinion that the yew tree was planted close 



