62 



THE YEW TREE. 



tnree feet deep, throwing back into the bottom 

 the worst of what has been removed, and re- 

 serving the best for the upper stratum, he is 

 sure to be handsomely requited by a rapid 

 growth of the trees. 



Although the yew tree is a hardy plant, and 

 fond of cold regions (" amantes frigora taxi "), 

 still it will be much more vigorous in the shel- 

 tered valley, than on the bleak hill exposed to 

 the wintry blast. Our western gales here in 

 Yorkshire press far too keenly on its foliage, 

 and render the side which is exposed to their 

 fury as thin and wretched in appearance, as 

 the face of a metropolitan alderman would be 

 on Easter Sunday morning, after having strug- 

 gled through forty long days of unmitigated 

 fasting. Provided you do not care about 

 having your yew tree in all the exuberance of 

 uncurbed vegetation, you may apply the pru- 

 ning-knife and shears with a safe and an un- 

 sparing hand ; for the yew tree will submit to 

 curtailment with good effect, and without any 

 apparent diminution of vitality. If we clip its 

 southern side in imitation of a wall, and allow 

 that which faces the north to flourish in its 

 natural state, we shall have from the same line 



