CHAl*. CXI I.

TAXA'CEiH.

ta'xus.

2067

the shrubbery of James Andrews, Esq., from a drawing by \V. G.Johnson, Esq., of Fortfield, near Belfast, kindly procured for usby Mr. Mackay. The drawing wasdescription, by Mr. C. J. Andrews,the son of the proprietor of the tree:

— This yew is 21ft. high; the di-ameter of the head is 16 ft. 6 in.,and the circumference of the trunk,at 1 ft. from the ground, is 4 ft. 5 in.

“ The tree resembles an inverted coneformed of numerous richly foliatedtapering branches, of a deep green,and studded, in autumn, with scarletcoral-coloured berries. The head ofthe tree is formed by numerousbranches springing up from a mainstem of only 1 ft. 6 in. high. Thesebranches vary much in thickness andheight; about ten of the largesthaving the diameter of a foot each. Their form and growth are, how-ever, very uniform, being richly encircled witli innumerable smallplume-like shoots, growing vertically along the main branches, ofabout 6 in. in length, and thickly clothed with narrow decussatedleaves of about 1 in. in length; and all so feathering the severalarms, as to form the lengthened plumes exhibited by the drawing;about fifty of which easily waved sombre plumes form the top ofthe tree. The exact age of this yew is unknown: it was plantedby John Andrews, Esq., father of its present owner; and it hasbeen certainly 50 years in its present situation. This kind of yew isnow very generally and extensively planted herein ornamental plant-ations ; and I can trace much of its propagation, even in Dublin,to the trees sent thither as presents by my grandfather. — C. .7. A.,Dublin, Nov. 1836.” There are two trees of this variety at NetherPlace, near Mauchline, Ayrshire, respecting which the followinginformation has been transmitted to us by Mr. John Davidson,gardener, at Nether Place. “ In compliance with your request Ihave again measured the Irish yews in Mr. Campbell’s garden atNether Place. I cannot ascertain the age of the trees, but I aminformed by Miss Campbell, that, about 40 or 50 years ago, theyfailed at their tops, and were then cut over, which, indeed, appearsevident on examining the trunks. There are now 60 uprightbranches from the one trunk, and 56 upright branches from theother, each measuring from 6 in. to 2 ft. in circumference. In ap-pearance the two trees are exactly alike : the larger is 22 ft. 6 in.,and the smaller 20 ft. 8 in. in height; the circumference of thelarger head is 66 ft. 9 in., and of the smaller 66 ft. 3 in.; the circum-ference of the larger trunk is 9 ft., and of the smaller 8 ft.; andthe trunk of each tree rises about 2 ft. from the soil before it beginsto throw out branches. Both trees are in perfect health. Theseyews must be of slow growth; since, 10 years ago, I propagated someplants from the old trees, and the greatest progress they have madein that space of time is 5 ft. 6 in. in height.” A beautiful drawing ofone of these trees, was sent to us by Mr. Davidson, but it came toolate to be engraved. One at Balcarras, in Fifeshire, was, in 1834,15 ft. high. This variety is readily propagated by cuttings put inin autumn in sand, and covered with a hand-glass. It well deservesculture, more especially in small gardens.

* «■ T. b. 3 procumbens ; T. procumbens Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; is a lowand somewhat trailing shrub, not very common in collections. It is6 s 3

accompanied by