(144) 



Next along the path is another wide-spreading Variegated 

 English-Yew. Behind it the largest tree in the entire group is 



Taxus cuspidata, the Japanese Yew 



The Japanese Yew has during recent years become one of the 

 favorite ornamental evergreens. It has superseded the more famed 

 English Yew because of its greater hardiness and reliability. It is 

 very commonly used as a hedge plant and in this capacity a low- 

 spreading form is employed that is secured by cuttings from lateral 

 branches of plants. If the upright terminal shoots are rooted up- 

 right plants result. The reddish berry-like fruits of the yew are 

 an ornamental asset but to insure their production male and female 

 trees must be planted together. The yews, like the hollies, do 

 not as a rule have both sexes of flowers on the same plant as in 

 the pines and spruces. 



The Japanese Yew is native to Japan, where from time immemo- 

 rial it has been used for ornamental purposes. It attains a height 

 there of 50 feet. The tough, close-grained and beautifully colored 

 wood has been used for cabinet work and indoor decoration. The 

 Ainos, the aboriginal inhabitants of the island of Yeso, made their 

 bows from the Japanese Yew as the archers of Europe did from 

 the tough English Yew. 



The Japanese Yew is most readily identified by the two-ranked 

 leaves, which stand up on the twigs forming a V-shaped trough. 

 The leaves of the English Yews do not show this so conspicuously 

 and, furthermore, are not yellowish on the under surface. 



Next along the path is another Dwarf Japanese- Yew and behind 

 it a large wide-spreading Variegated English-Yew. Behind this 

 the taller green yew with wide base is a Japanese Yew. The two 

 tall narrow evergreens behind these last vews are Red Cedars 

 (p. 112). 



Now we see a few very small yews. The first one to the right 

 close to the bigger Variegated English-Yew is 



Taxus baccata var. fastigiata aurea, the Golden Irish-Yew 



This is a yellow form of the Irish Yew. It may attain a height 

 of six or ten feet. 



