306 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



like the teeth of a comb. Some etymologists 

 consider it to have been derived from tiPov (a 

 bow or arrow). Pliny says, that according to 

 some, the toxica, or poison, used for arrows, 

 was called taxica, from this tree; but these 

 poisons were so named from -o%ov. Others 

 derive it from taxo, in the sense otreprehendo, 

 culpo : this being a poisonous tree. 



The yew is easily propagated from seed, 

 which should be sown in the autumn, as soon 

 as ripe, without being cleared from the pulp. 

 The soil should be fresh and undunged, and 

 the situation shady ; and the seed should be 

 covered about half an inch thick with earth. 

 The bed must be kept free from weeds, and 

 moistened by watering. In two years the 

 plants should be removed into other beds, and 

 planted in rows about a foot asunder. 



The yew may likewise be increased by 

 cuttings of one or two years' growth, planted 

 in a shady border, at the beginning of April, 

 or the end of August. No tree bears trans- 

 planting, when old, better than the yew ; so 

 that hedges of a considerable height may be 

 formed of it where it is desirable to shut out 

 walks, or hide objects in the shrubbery. 



Halifax, in Yorkshire, owes both its name 

 and importance to this tree, if we may credit 

 a story related bv Camden, who tells us, that 



