January 9, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
well adapted for tlie purpose of quickly furnishing a new 
structure. 
Since the conservatory has been, completed, furnished, and 
planted, we learn that the heating apparatus and working parts 
of the conservatory have been giving great satisfaction. The 
gardener, Mr. Edward H. Clarkson, isi also perfectly well satis¬ 
fied with the arrangements and the prospect of growing plant,s 
in this new conservatory, and we have no doubt his enthusiasm 
will enable him to produce a very pleasing effect in the course 
of a few year's, which are necessary for the climbers to tone 
down the newness of such a tall building. We have no doubt 
that, very pleasing effects can be brought about by the use of 
climbers on those stays, and by the use of large baskets of 
flowers 'and greenery in suitable situations. 
Taxus baccata and its Varieties. 
This Yew has a very wide distribution in Europe and Asia,, 
attaining its largest dimensions in the Himalayas, where it 
ha,s been known to reach the height of 60 it. Remains of it 
exist in several buried forests round our coast, and have also 
been discovered by 'geologists in the strata belonging to the 
Tertiary period—a proof of its antiquity. Its poisonous 
nature no doubt helped it to struggle successfully for so long a 
time; it is a fact that it is often fatal to cattle when eaten by 
them. Another is its longevity ; a single tree may go on. pro¬ 
ducing thousands of seeds for hundreds of years. The birdsi, 
too, in their greed for the soft, sweet pulp, distribute the seeds 
widely. 
Its timber was appreciated by cm’ forefathers, who used it 
for furniture, of which examples are still to be seen in old 
farm-houses. The wood is of very fine grain, close and hard, 
and bears a fine polish, but is difficult to' work. Gate posts 
made of it outlast any other timber. Everyone knows that in 
early times our national weapon (the long bow) was made from 
its tough, elastic branches. The success of the English in 
battle was often due to the excellence of their archers from 
the time of the Saxons until the invention of gunpowder. Our 
ancestors also planted it near their churches ; in fact, some 
of the oldest and finest specimens may be found in such situa¬ 
tions. On the downs in Wiltshire, Surrey, and Sussex whole 
woods of this tree are to be found, and form the favourite 
home of scores of wood pigeons. 
The ornamental varieties of this tree vary considerably in 
form and colour. Of green varieties, the Irish Yew, T. b. fasti- 
giata, needs no recommendation; its distinct form is well 
known. It originated a,s a wdd seedling near t Lorence Court, 
and is sometimes known as the Florence Court Yew. T. b. fas- 
tigiata aurea is a golden form of much merit. 
Another Yew which owes its origin to the Emerald Isle is the 
one bearing fruits of a beautiful golden yellow, and known as 
T. b. fructu luteo. Dovaston’s Yew, T. b. Dovastoni, has a 
curious history. The original plant was bought from a travel¬ 
ling tinker by a blacksmith named John Dovaston, and planted 
by him in the hope that its fibrous roots would uphold the sides 
of his well. The position appears to have suited it, for it not 
only carried out his purpose, but developed into a tree of 
great beauty. Fortunately, a golden variety has been, secured 
which possesses all its parent’s good qualitiesi—viz., free 
■ growth and horizontal brancheis, from which depend graceful, 
outwardly-curving branchlets. T. b. glauca, or “ Blue John,” 
is perhaps the most vigorous of all. 
Dwarf and interesting forms are T. b. adpressa., T. b. epacri- 
dioides, T. b. erieoides, and T. b. Foxii. Of theise the former 
is by far the most distinct. It occurred in a bed of .seedlings, 
and wa« much prized by the late Mr. F. Dickson, who named it 
brevifolia—a ^ame which is now generally applied to he Cali¬ 
fornian Yew. Golden and silver forms-well worthy of attention 
and not previously mentioned are T. b. argentea., T. b. aurea, 
and T. b. elegantissima,. There is also a variety called T. 
semper aurea, which retains its bright, golden colour the whole 
season : unfortunately, with us It grows slowly. 
The Yew is not particular as to soil, but grows most freely 
in that rich in humus. Its numerous fibrous roofs render it 
easy of transplantation. This should be done in early autumn 
or late spring, as, owing to the evaporation 'caused by its ever¬ 
green nature, it is desirable that root action should take place 
almost immediately, and replace the loss of sap. J. C. 
Trenching. 
Trenching, if well done, is one of the best ways of improving 
a. garden, no matter what kind of soil it is composed of, for 
it affords a grand opportunity for deepening the soil and also 
enriching it to a. much greater depth than could be done with 
ordinary digging, and it also offers a good chance for disposal 
of all garden refuse. 
It iis necessary, before starting the trenching, tgi ascertain 
Apple Wagener. (See p. 29.) 
die nature of the subsoil, if that be not already known, for 
by a knowledge of tills/ the operator will then know how the 
two soils should be treated as the work proceeds. If the nature 
of the subsoil is not known', the best way to ascertain this 
is to dig a hole 2 ft. deep in various parts of the garden, and 
this will give you a correct idea of its composition. 
The above knowledge being acquired, provide yourself with 
a. good spade and fork, and commence to trench the ground in 
