OUR NATIVE CONIFERS. 
75 
Yew continually pushing out new shoots from the lower part of 
its bole, which take an upright direction, and coalesce with the 
old wood. 
Although the Yew is a large tree, it is by no means a tall tree : 
the height of full-grown Yews in this country ranging between 
fifteen and fifty feet, though they are said to attain a greater 
length in India. The bole of the Yew is short but massive, 
covered with a thin red bark, that flakes off in patches much after 
the manner of Plane-bark. Large specimens have a girth of from 
twenty-five to fifty feet — or even more. Such a circumference 
represents the growth of many centuries, for the annual growth- 
rings are very thin. It is this very slow growth that produces 
the hard, compact, and elastic wood that was so highly esteemed 
in the days of the long-bow. Not only is the timber elastic and 
strong, but it is exceedingly durable, so that it is said, “ A post 
of Yew will outlast a post of iron.” Its branches start from the 
trunk at only a few feet from the ground, and, taking an almost 
horizontal direction, throw out a great number of leafy twigs, 
which provide a dense and extensive shade. These leaves 
are leathery in texture, curved somewhat after the manner 
of a reaping-hook, shiny and dark above, pale and unpolished 
below. 
We have already mentioned that the Yew is a dioecious tree 
— that is, one whose male and female blossoms are borne on 
separate trees — but the statement requires qualification to this 
extent, that occasionally a tree will be found bearing a branch or 
branches whose flowers are of the sex opposite to those covering 
the greater part of the tree. The male catkin is almost round, 
a quarter of an inch across, and contains about half a dozen 
yellow anthers, the base surrounded by dry overlapping scales. 
They may be found during February and March, in profusion on 
the underside of the boughs. The female flower is much smaller, 
and consists of a fleshy disk with a few scales at its base, and on 
this stands a single seed-egg. After fertilization of the seed-egg 
