Ill 
After considering it in this warlike capacity, it is 
rather derogatory to see it, as we frequently do, even 
now, clipped into all sorts of strange and monstrous 
shapes in the way of adornment. Perhaps no tree has 
suffered more than this from the treasonable attempts of 
art to thwart or supplant nature. By our forefathers, 
who preferred novelty to reality, it was tortured into 
various forms, as is evident from the relics yet preserved 
in many old-fashioned gardens. Shenstone playfully 
condemns this tampering with the wild graces of nature. 
“ Art,” says he, “ is indeed often requisite to collect 
and epitomise the beauties of nature, but should never 
be suffered to set her mark upon them. Why fantasti¬ 
cally endeavour to humanise those vegetables of which 
Nature, discreet Nature, thought it proper to make 
trees? Why endow the vegetable bird with wings, 
which Nature has made momentarily dependant upon 
the soil ? ” 
The wood of the yew is red, beautifully veined, and 
very hard and smooth, which makes it valuable for or¬ 
namental purposes. Its twigs and leaves are poisonous, 
and have frequently proved fatal to cattle, and some¬ 
times to the human species. Some extend this perni¬ 
cious property to the berry; but it is supposed ground¬ 
lessly, as many persons, ancient and modern, have eaten 
