66 SYLVAN WINTER. 



green beauty of sylvan Winter. Very beautiful 

 indeed we consider the dark-green, glossy foliage 

 of the Yew. The leaves themselves are quite as 

 beautiful as those of the much-praised Silver Fir, 

 and, like them, are flat, but are pointed instead of 

 round at their apices. They are produced in 

 double rows along the twigs, are slightly stalked, 

 dark-green above (except when newly produced), 

 lighter underneath, and curved upwards from the 

 back of the twigs. How brightly they shine when 

 the earth is bound by frost and snow, gleaming 

 forth from the chillest surroundings with a de- 

 lightful ft-eshness, suggestive of their enduring 

 life and vigour : how patiently they bear over- 

 shadowing of foliage above, that would kill many 

 other plants, looking vigorous and green and 

 beautiful under the most depressing circumstances : 

 and how persistently they adorn the branches of 

 the noble tree which bears them — pervading em- 

 blems of verdancy — must be fully known by those 

 who would fairly appreciate the sylvan beauties 

 of the Yew. 



Dear old Gilpin comes warmly to the rescue of 

 this tree from aspersion. ' As to its picturesque 



