5i6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Taxus baccata (English Yew) (Fig, 328) is familiar to everyone. 

 Thoroughly hardy, and distinct from all other trees, it is too 

 well known to need more than passing reference. Some of its 

 varieties are, however, far from familiar, and attention will 

 be drawn to a few of the most distinct and meritorious. 

 T. b. adpressa is of compact growth, with spreading branches 

 and dark green leaves ; it is very ornamental and useful for 

 small gardens. T. b. a. variegata is a prettily-marked variety of 

 much merit, and worthy of extended culture ; the variegation is 

 constant. T. b. albo-variegata is of satisfactory grow^th ; the silver- 

 edged leaves are touched with yellow in winter, at which 

 season it is very attractive, and adds colour to the shrubbery. 



Yew. T. b. elegaiitissima is a showy variety for the garden, 

 of free growth, and neat, compact habit, and its leaves are 

 distinctly edged with cream-white ; it keeps its colour well even 

 when planted in partial shade. T. b. erecta {T. b. empetrifolid) 

 should be represented where the type would be inadmissible on 

 account of its widely-spreading branches ; it is compact and 

 upright in growth, free, and quite distinct. T. b, ericoides 

 (Heath-like Yew) is erect, neat, and valuable for the rock 

 garden ; its stem is covered with brownish-red bark, and 

 the leaves are very small and deep green. T. b. fastigiata 

 (Irish Yew) is conspicuous for its upright, close habit of growth ; 



Fig. 328. — Taxus baccata. 



(Fruit and Flower in different stages.) 



T. b. a?'gejitea is variable 

 in the colour of its foli- 

 age, and should always 

 be planted in an open 

 spot to bring out its true 

 leaf colour. T. b. aiirea 

 is an attractive variety, 

 of compact, pyramidal 

 habit, and is easily 

 grown ; it possesses, too, 

 golden-coloured leaves, 

 and the tips of the 

 branchlets are stained 

 with yellow. This is a 

 fine plant to brighten 

 the shrubbery during 

 winter, and is useful also 

 for winter-beddinc^ and 

 window - boxes. T. b. 

 cheshujttensis forms a 

 distinct and pleasing 

 variety of erect growth, 

 with short glossy green 

 leaves ; it is freer in 

 growth than the Irish 



