76 THE CULTIVATED EVERGREENS 



called nana. There are, however, in gardens large, broad, bushy- 

 forms that are quite different from nana and are not distin- 

 guished by any varietal name. A low variety, densa, makes a 

 compact, round, spherical bush. Taxus Hichsii originated in 

 the Hicks Nurseries, Westbury, Long Island. It forms a 

 narrow pyramidal head and gives promise of being an excellent 

 decorative plant. The tree form of the Japanese yew is very 

 desirable, and a beautiful object on a lawn. 



The so-called English yew, Taxus baccata, which is native in 

 Europe and parts of Asia, cannot be compared to the Japanese 

 yew in hardihood. In severe winters it is likely to brown badly, 

 and sometimes branches are killed; in such instances it is 

 usually late in summer before the specimicns recover to look 

 presentable. The English yew is a most beautiful evergreen 

 in any part of this country where it proves hardy. Var. re- 

 pandens almost approaches the Japanese yew in hardihood. 

 It is a low-spreading form in which the tips of the branches 

 turn downward. The leaves are dark green with a slightly 

 glaucous tinge. Var. Washingtoni forms a large spreading 

 bush with the leaves lightly tinged yellow, and seems to be 

 hardier than the type. Var. adpressa has short, abrupt, olive- 

 green leaves, forms a low irregular bush, and is fairly hardy. 

 Var. ereda, an upright bush six to seven feet in height, has 

 been browned in winter several times but has always recovered. 

 Anyone who attempts to grow various forms of the English 

 yew in this country should be cautious to plant them in a 

 situation well protected from the sweep of the cold winds 

 and one sheltered by some means from the sun in late 

 winter. 



The Canadian yew, Taxus canadensis, native as an under- 

 growth shrub from Newfoundland to Virginia, is often known 

 commonly as ground-hemlock. In damp woods it produces a 



