BACCIFER^. 169 



Leaves, linear, lanceolate, oblong, or rounded ; alternate, decnrrent, 

 leathery, stiff, or pliant ; and of various colours. 



Berries, round, oval, or spherical ; scarlet, brown, or yellowisb ; 

 having nut-like seeds with a bony shell or husk ; free and exposed at 

 the top, and covered or enclosed at the base in a fleshy cup or disk, 

 which is glutinous. 



In this section we have the Common Yew, and its many quasi- 

 species, varieties, and sub-varieties : an assemblage of trees and shrubs, 

 which are natives of Europe, America, China, and Asia, but to be 

 found either in an indigenous or exotic state in most temperate regions 

 of the globe. Many of them produce first-class timber, which is more 

 or less close-grained, hard, tough as leather, flexible, elastic, and im- 

 perishable in its degree of durability ; capable of a high polish, rich in 

 colour, very frequently beautifully marbled and veined, and much 

 prized by turners and other wood artists. 



The Yew is thoroughly hardy, good in constitution, living to a 

 fabulous age ; and will grow in almost any description of soil if in a 

 sweet and healthy condition ; but prefers moist to very dry ones, and 

 luxuriates in loams and clays, and in stony debris, and shady situa- 

 tions. They are comparatively small-sized trees, and many of them 

 only large shrubs, while not a few of them are but pigmies or sprawl- 

 ing bushes : yet, a cognate group of plants of the most suitable descrip- 

 tion for forming-hedges, shelter belts, screens, or mixed shrubberies : in 

 short for any decorative or ornamental planting whatever. For resist- 

 ing wet, or alternate wet and dryness, and the inclemency or variable- 

 ness of our weather ; for their being proof against fungoids, or other 

 plant-enemies ; for their so well enduring to be dipt or shorn into 

 grotesque forms ; and for forming plant-statuary, few if any species or 

 varieties of plants are better adapted ; while, even, in their natural 

 forms they are most varied and dissimilar ; some of them, e. g. Com- 

 munis, are quite expansive or spreading in their habit of growth; 

 some perfectly erect and cylindrical, e. g. the Irish form ; some, again, 

 are pendent-branched, while some are conical little piUars and others 

 round or spherical little pigmies. Again, in their foliage they are 

 equally diversified, some of which are superlatively variegated, others 

 lively sea or pea-green ; while the most of them are dull and sombre- 

 green in colour ; and a few of them rusty or brownish-green, others 

 yellowish-green : some have large ample foliage, others have small 

 scale-like leaves. 



"When Arboriculture is enthroned in her own legitimate 



