PIXETUM DANICUM. 



313 



Pinet. 311. T. niicifera, Wall. Tent. Fl. Nep. 44, t. 57 (excl. syn.). 

 T. virgata, Wall. PI. Exsicc. T. nepalensis, Jacq. PI. Exsicc. 

 T. Wallkhiana, Zucc. in Abliandl. d. Math. Phys. Kl. d. Bayer Akad. 

 iii. 803, t. 5. 



The Yew being almost always raised from seed, the male and female 

 plants may be supposed to be nearly equally distributed, both in 

 natural woods and in artificial plantations. According to Miller and 

 Lamarck, both sexes are sometimes found on the same tree. "As far 

 as we have been able to observe," says W^iite of Selborne, " the male 

 tree becomes much larger than the female one " (Nat. Hist, of Selb. 

 ed. 1789). 



Yarennes de Feuilles states that the wood, before it has been 

 seasoned, when cut into veneers, and immersed some months in 

 pond water, will take a purple- violet colour, probably owing to the 

 presence of alkali in the water. According to this author, the wood 

 of the Yew weighs, when green, 80 lbs. 9 oz. per cubic foot, and 

 when dry 61 lbs. 7 oz. It requires a longer time to become perfectly 

 dry than any other wood whatever ; and it shrinks so little in drying 

 as not to lose above jgth part of its bulk. The fineness of its grain 

 is owing to the thinness of its annual layers, 280 of these being 

 sometimes found in a piece not more than 20 inches in diameter. 

 It is universally allowed to be the finest European wood for cabinet- 

 making purposes. Tables made of Yew, when the grain is fine, 

 according to Gilpin, are more beautiful than tables of mahogany, and 

 the colour of its root is said to vie with the ancient citron. It is 

 generally employed in the form of veneers, and for inlaid work ; it is 

 also used by the turner, and made into vases, snufi'-boxes, musical 

 instruments, and a great variety of similar articles. Both the root 

 and trunk furnish, at their ramifications, pieces of wood beautifully 

 veined and marbled, which are highly prized. The sapwood, though 

 of as pure a white as the wood of the Holly, is easily dyed a jet 

 black, when it has the appearance of ebony. 



T. haccata has in several Danish gardens attained a height of over 

 30 feet. 



Hahitcd. — The Yew is indigenous to most parts of Europe, from 

 lat. 58° N. to the Mediterranean Sea, and also to the east and west 

 of Asia ; and on the supposition that T. canadensis is only a variety of 

 T. haccata, which we believe to be the case, the common Yew is also 

 a native of North America, in Maryland, Canada, and other places. 

 In a wild state it is confined to shady places, such as the north side of 

 steep hills, or among tall deciduous trees, and is always found on a 

 clayey, loamy, or calcareous soil, which is naturally moist. It some- 

 times grows in the clefts of dry rocks, but never on sandy plains ; and 

 hence it is wanting in the Russian Empire, except on the mountains of 

 the Crimea and in the Caucasus. It is found in every part of Britain, 

 and also in Ireland — on limestone clifi"s and in mountainous woods 



