On Hollow Yew Trees 485 



stem. Sometimes, perhaps, an injury to the leading shoot 

 stops its growth, with the result that branches grow up by 

 its sides from near the bottom and enclose it. 



A large fungus (Polypoms sulphureus) is not unfrequently 

 found growing on old Yews, and it has been accused of 

 attacking the heart wood, but probably it does not gain 

 access until decay has commenced. 



We are fortunate in possessing, in the Haslemere Museum, 

 a very interesting specimen in illustration of the suggestion 

 which we now offer. It is a square block, 4 in. by 4 in., of the 

 hardiest red yew wood, which encloses in its middle a stone 

 as big as a hen's egg. The enclosure is complete, but the 

 walls of the cavity in which the stone is embedded show 

 remains of bark and some dried leaves, &c. The stone is 

 immovably fixed. The walls of enclosing wood have very 

 obviously been made up of several stems which have coalesced, 

 for different systems of concentric rings may be clearly traced. 

 The density of the wood at all the exposed parts would imply 

 that the block was cut out of the middle of a tree of consider- 

 able size. About this nothing is known. It is obvious that 

 the saw of the woodcutter came upon the stone and that thus 

 its discovery was brought about and the specimen preserved. 

 It was given to Mr. Hutchinson some years ago by the late 

 Dr. M. Baynes. 



In one of the hedgerows at Invai there is now growing a 

 clump of yew stems enclosing a stone and partially coalesced. 

 Eventually a condition similiar to that in our specimen may 

 be produced, but so slow is the growth of the yew that it 

 may take half a century to accomplish it. 



In many instances it is, we believe, the original stem itself 

 which is enclosed, and which, failing to accomplish union with 

 its junior relatives, is killed and undergoes decay. We 

 respectfully offer this to Mr. Chamberlain as a good illustra- 

 tion of the desirability of prompt and complete consolidation 

 of the mother country with her colonies. 

 40 



