Canadian Yew as a Ground Cover Under Trees 
ALDRED SCOTT WARTHIN M.chi.a„ 
A NATIVE EVERGREEN PLANT THAT OFFERS SPECIAL ADVANTAGES AS A COVERT FOR THE WILD PARTRIDGE 
AND OTHER GAME BIRDS 
T he only native American ^’ew 
reaches its fullest perfection of 
growth in the sand dunes of the 
eastern shore of Lake Michigan 
and on sandy* hills throughout the central 
and northern portions of the state. This 
\ ew described under the name of Taxus 
canadensis (T. baccata var. minor, Mich.; T. 
baccata var. canadensis, Gray; I. minor, 
Britt.) and known popularly as Trailing 
Hemlock, is a prostrate shrub with wide- 
spreading slender branches. In light woods 
it IS usually about eighteen inches to two 
Under the shade of trees the Trailing Hemlock 
makes good evergreen ground cover and covert for wild 
birds 
feet in height, rarely exceeding three feet. 
In dark, moist, and cool woods on the northern 
side of the sand dunes under Hemlock trees 
there are taller varieties that often reach four 
to five feet in height. Its leaves are a bright, 
slightly yellowish, green and are shorter and 
narrower than those of English ^’ew. In 
winter they take on a reddish or brownish 
hue. In the fall it ripens reddish-yellow or 
vermilion-red soft, gelatinous berries. A 
number of varieties of this form of American 
Yew have been described in various parts of 
the country, particularly in Florida and 
California. It has a very wide range through- 
out the country, from Newfoundland to 
Manitoba and south to Florida. 
This plant has been recommended by Dr. 
Miller and others as a native to be used in 
place of the English Yew on the grounds that 
it is the only Yew that will stand the severe 
winds of our late winters and early spring. 
1 he shrub can be obtained from leading 
nurserymen, and in cultivation tends to take 
a somewhat more erect form; but that it 
can ever be a substitute for the rounded, 
modeling of the mass of the English ^’ew no 
one who has ever seen the plant in its native 
woods can believe. Its habit is so absolutely 
different. It is a straggler, and essentially 
a ground cover, forming in shady woods a 
beautiful, billowy surface, and offering in its 
shelter the last remaining haunts of the wild 
partridge. Where it grows in its full vigor 
no other underbrush will grow, and the 
effect of such a ground cover under trees is 
one of greatest beauty. It is for this especial 
purpose — a beautiful ground cover for shady 
woods and for the preservation of game that 
I wish to recommend this native Yew. It 
will grow in any sandy soil in the shade, 
preferring northern exposure, but is occasion- 
ally found in open sunshine where there 
is an abundant supply of moisture. 
Although the wild partridge has almost 
disappeared from Michigan, I have rarely 
walked through the woods where the Yew 
forms a ground cover without starting some 
of these birds. 
To those who own woodland the planting 
of Canadian Yew is recommended. 
Jaranese Yew to left with short leaved form. Taxus Cus- 
pifata var. Brevifolia in middle. Canadian Yew or Trailing 
Hemlock to right 
Tested Vegetable Planting Table for the South 
S. PRENTISS BALDWIN Georgia 
TO MELD FRESH VEGETABLES FROM NOVEMBER iST TO MAY iST SUFFICIENT FOR TEN PERSONS— SPECIALLY 
ADAPTED TO SOUTHERN ALABAMA, SOUTHERN GEORGIA AND UP TO SAVANNAH 
[Editor’s Note. — This is about as nearly perfect as any table can be. It is not a theoretical one, but is the result of several years’ 
actual use and corrections to date, by the author and Mr. If . Felvick, who has also had considerable experience in vegetable gardening in the South 
and who has cooperated in this presentation. A similar table was published in 1910, and the present table is the result of the constant revision of 
that each year to date.] 
A GREAI' point to remember, in 
producing vegetables for winter 
is, that as the season progresses, 
the days are growing shorter and 
the heat less; the outdoor crops must reach 
approximate maturity in November for they 
will make little growth after that. 
Another point is that the region considered 
is near the edge of the frost line, where one 
year there is summer weather with Roses all 
winter, and perhaps the next year severe 
frosts. \ egetables “almost hardy,” are those 
which may go through a winter out-of-doors, 
but are much more sure crops in coldframes. 
A third point is that most of the planting 
must be done in the heat of August and 
September, when the young seedlings should 
be protected from much direct sun. 
The distance apart for rows is based on 
hand cultivation. If desired, all rows may be 
three feet apart to permit horse cultivation. A 
small garden, very deeply cultivated and thor- 
oughly enriched, will produce better vegetables 
and is more easily cared for than a large area. 
Root crops, especially, require a deep soil. 
The varieties named are those actually 
used in working up this table. They are 
not necessarily- the best, but they are good. 
Other gardeners may prefer others. 
Buy the best seeds. Upon planting seeds, 
whether »putside or in flats, always protect 
them from the sun until the plants appear. 
Seeds need moisture and heat, to start, but 
do not need sun. Boards may be laid over 
the rows; paper, cloth, or other covering 
used; and the same boards may be propped 
up on the south side, of the rows to shade 
the young plants. 
In the South, many vegetables do better if 
planted on low ridges or mounds a few inches 
above tbe level to provide better drainage. 
Crops may be hastened by plantingonthe south 
slope of ridges, a foot or more high, or may 
be held back by planting on the north slope. 
An excellent plan for winter, to catch the 
heat and hasten the crop and at the same 
time furnish protection from frost and a 
mulch between the rows, is as follows: 
Plant the row to run east and west, then 
prop up a board on the north side of the row 
at an angle of 45 degrees over the plants, 
admitting the south sun. .Another board 
may lie flat between the rows, except when 
frost threatens, when it should be tipped 
up over the row against the north board, 
making a complete frost-proof cover. 
Sufficient water, applied when needed, 
is better than frequent small applications. 
In hot weather, apply in the evening. In 
cold weather, apply in the morning. Water 
sparingly when cold delays growth. 
To prevent injury from frost, liberal use 
of cloth for covering should be made in 
small, compact gardens. Smudge fires, of 
pine covered with, wet straw, may be main- 
tained through the night and should con- 
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