Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/812

 784 YEW present include these in conifera, as a very distinct subfamily or tribe, the taxinece. This subfamily includes, besides the yew, Torreya, Salisburia or gingko, and cephalotaxus, with a few other rarer genera. The yews are trees of medium size, with evergreen leaves, which are linear, flat, rigid, pointed at the apex, and Tew (Taius baccata). mostly arranged in two rows. The flowers, usually dioacious, but sometimes monoecious, are axillary from scaly buds ; the sterile aments are small, globular, and consist of a few sta- mens, each with three to eight anther cells beneath a shield-like scale (connective) ; the fertile flowers are solitary, and consist of mere- ly a naked ovule, erect and sessile upon a ring- like disk, beneath which are several scaly bracts ; after the ovule is fertilized and begins to develop into a seed, the disk upon which it is placed begins to grow, becoming cup-shaped, and gradually covering the ovule, and by the time the nut-like seed is ripe the disk has enclosed it, except a small opening at the top, and at the same time be- come fleshy, appearing like a pulpy (usually) red berry, which gives the specific name T. baccata. The com- mon yew is a most variable tree, and in its typical form is known in this country as the English yew, though it is found all over central and in the mountains of southern Europe, and in Siberia, on the Hi- malaya, and in other parts of Asia ; it presents numerous varieties, one of which is North American. The tree, though living to a great age, is seldom more than 30 ft. high, with a wide spread of branches and a very thick trunk; in England are many specimens remarkable for their age and great size, some now living be- ing estimated at from TOO to 1,000 years or more old ; biographies of a number of these are given by Loudon in his Arboretum et Fru- ticetum Britannicum; one of the finest is the Barley yew, in the churchyard of Barley in Berbyshire; this has the unusual height of 55 ft. with a spread of branches of 70 ft. ; the trunk is 19 ft. 3 in. in diameter, and its age, as estimated from the diameter, over 1,300 years. The wood of the yew is very heavy, fine-grained, elastic, and durable; the heart wood is of a fine orange red or a deep brown, and the sap wood, which is very hard, is pure white, with different shades where the two join, and both are susceptible of a fine pol- ish. Specimens containing the two are used for ornamental cabinet work, a purpose for which the wood is much employed; tables and other work made from it are considered more beautiful than those of mahogany ; it is employed in the form of veneers, and used solid for various articles of turnery ; its great strength adapts it for axle trees and other work where this quality is required ; when set in the ground for fence and gate posts, it is practically indestructible, and it is never at- tacked by insects. Before firearms were in- troduced yew was in great request for bows, and various laws were enacted to preserve a supply of the material for military puposes; it has been suggested that the general planting of the tree in churchyards was for this rea- son, but it is more probable that, on account of the longevity of the tree, it was used by the Celtic priests as an emblem of immortal- ity. In the ancient style of gardening, when trees were clipped into unnatural forms, the yew was a favorite subject for topiary work ; at present it is used in England for screens and in groups, but its association with grave- yards is still regarded by some as an objection Yew Tree at Darley, Derbyshire, England. to planting it as an ornamental tree. In this country it is not hardy in the northern states. The leaves are poisonous to man, and cattle have been killed by eating them ; but the ber- ries are generally regarded as harmless, though ill effects have been ascribed to them. The tree has produced many sports, and the lists