264

A DISCOURSE

BOOK I.

CHAP. XXI.

The YEW ; HOLLY , CORNUS, and BOX.

Taxus , the YEW \ Since the use of bows is laid aside amongst us,the propagation of this tree is quite forborne. But the neglect of it is tobe deplored; Seeing that the barrenest grounds, and coldest of ourmountains

— . A quilonem et frigora taxi.

might be profitably replenished with it: I say, profitably 5 for, besides■the use of the wood for bows,

-Ityraeos taxi torquentur in arcus.

the artists in Box, inlayers, and cabinet-makers (particularly for marquetryfloors) most gladly employ it; and in Germany they wainscot their stoves

1 We have but one species of this tree in Europe , viz,

TAXUS ( baccata ) foliis approximatis. Lin. Sp. Plant, 1472. Yew-tree with leaves■growing near each other. The common yew-tree.

It is of the clafs and order Dioecia Mmadeljihia.

This tree grows naturally in England, and also in most of the northern countriesof Europe, and in North-America . If suffered to grow, it will rise to a good height, witha very large stem. It naturally sends out branches on every side, which spread out, andare almost horizontal; these are closely garnished with narrow, stiff, blunt-pointed leaves,of a very dark green. The flowers come out from the sides of the branches in clusters ;■the male-flowers having many stamina, are more conspicuous than the female; these forthe most part are upon different trees, but sometimes are upon the same tree; they appearthe latter end of May, and the berries ripen in autumn.

The Yew-tree has been generally cultivated for the pleasure-garden, to be clippedinto the shape of beasts, birds, &c. or for hedges. Whoever is pleased with such figures,.can raise no tree more proper for' the purpose, as tire branches and the leaves maybe clipped and fashioned into almost any form or shape. ®ut as this method is justly-exploded, and as every one who has the least pretension to taste, must always prefer a treein its natural growth to those monstrous figures, the Yew is now chiefly planted for wilder-