QUALITIES OF THE YEW. 



85 



egg. They have a sweetish inoffensive taste^ 

 and are said to be harmless ; but I should ra- 

 ther advise their being avoided as food. The 

 leaves are highly poisonous ; and^ it is said^ 

 too^ that rain dripping from the branches^ 

 and even the air in the vicinity^ of the yew, 

 will prove injurious. But the wood of the 

 yew is sufficiently valuable to compensate for 

 much worse qualities than these. It is almost 

 impenetrably hard, and most beautifully rich 

 in its colour and veins. But it was not so 

 much its beauty, as its other and more im- 

 portant qualities of toughness and elasticity, 

 which rendered it famous in history." 



The yew tree famous in history?" re- 

 peated Frederick, with much surprise. 



Famous in this way, Frederick : before 

 the use of fire-arms, it was in constant request 

 for bows ; in the use of which, I am sure you 



