DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 103 



The leaf of the box is the only one that I know of that is 

 double, the upper and lower .surfaces not being connected 

 except at the edge. There are a few fine specimens of these 

 growing south-west of Cliftridge span bridge. 



The dwarf box is generally used for edgings, and grows 

 freely from cuttings some six or seven inches long, which 

 require to be watered freely until rooted. 



-June is the best month in which to clip box edgings, for 

 then it makes a new growth immediately ; when cut later they 

 show the withered shear marks until the new growth takes 

 place. 



Ilex opaca, the American Holly. — There are a few plants on 

 the east mound now bearing fruit. In December, when the 

 bushes are covered with snow, it is very pleasing to see the 

 bright berrries peeping through. 



Taxus baccata, or English yew, a- genus of tree of the natural 

 order taxaceae, which is generally regarded as a sub-order of 

 confine, and is characterized by solitary and terminal fertile 

 flowers, and with solitary ovule sessile in the centre of a fleshy 

 disc, forming a sort of drupe when in fruit and by dicotyledon- 

 ous seeds. The genus taxus is distinguished by a solitary 

 terminal seed surrounded by a succulent cup. The species 

 are diffused over the whole northern parts of the world, and 

 are a large and beautiful evergreen with narrow lanceolated 

 leaves. 



The common taxus baccata is a tree that grows thirty feet 

 high, and the trunk is sometimes of great thickness, branching 

 a few feet above the ground and forming a large and dense 

 head. It is a native of the middle and south of Europe and of 

 Siberia, and noble specimens are to be seen in many parts of 

 Britain. It attains the great age of from three to four hundred 

 years. Bows are made of the wood, which is very hard. 



The heart wood is of an orange color, and the fruit is red 

 and was long supposed to lie poisonous. The pulpy part is 

 not. The seed, however, is a dangerous poison, and the leaves 

 are a powerful narcotic. Although they are sometimes used 

 as a vermifuge, their use is attended with danger. There are 



