Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/813

 YEZDEGERD of the European nurserymen give numerous varieties, differing in habit and color. Our native yew, formerly regarded as a distinct species, taxus Canadensis, is now placed as var. Canadensis of T. baccata, and is known as the American yew, but more generally as the ground hemlock ; its stem is prostrate and trails upon the ground or runs just below the surface, the branches straggling, ascending, and rarely more than 3 or 4 ft. high ; in some lo- calities it forms the principal undergrowth, and presents a pleasing mass of vivid green. Sometimes the branches grow in a circle, with an open space in the centre, as regularly as if they had been trained ; in cultivation the fer- tile plant, with its abundant scarlet fruit in contrast with the dark green of the foliage, is a most beautiful object. Another variety (var. fastigiatd), known as the Irish yew, has erect branches, and has proved in this country more hardy than the type. The yellow-ber- ried yew differs only in the color of its fruit. The upright yew (var. erecta) is more hardy than the species. There are several dwarf , weeping, and variegated forms, among which there is none so beautiful as the golden yew (var. variegata aurea), in which the young growth in spring has its leaves edged with a bright golden yellow; there is also a sil- ver-leaved variety, more hardy than the spe- cies, and producing a brilliant effect when planted in contrast with other evergreens. The Florida yew is a tree 10 to 20 ft. high, growing in middle and western Florida; it has very narrow, distinctly petioled, pointed leaves, which are revolute on the margins ; it is not known to be hardy in more northern localities. The western yew of the Pacific coast (T. Iremfolia) is found from Vancouver island to nearly the southern boundary of California, especially on the Sierra Nevada; it grows from 50 to 75 ft. high ; some have regarded it as a form of the European yew, from which it mainly differs in its narrower, shorter, and thinner leaves, which are abrupt- ly pointed, and have distinct petioles ; it dif- fers from the yew of the east in always as- suming a tree-like form ; its wood resembles that of the European yew; this is called T. Lindleyana in some English works. The Mex- ican yew, T. glolosa, is a small tree with some- what curved leaves, ending in a stiff, sharp point. This with two from Japan completes the list of species. The yews are propagated both by sowing the seed and by cuttings. YEZDEGERD, or Isdigerd, the name of three Persian kings of the Sassanian dynasty. Yez- degerd I. reigned from A. D. 399 to about 420. He maintained peace abroad, although the con- dition of the empire was favorable to the re- newal of hostilities with Rome. He alternately persecuted the Magians and the Christians, ac- cording to changes in his own views, and few sovereigns have ' been more generally exe- crated. Yezdegerd II. reigned from about 440 to 457. He declared war against the Romans YOKOHAMA T85 and invaded their territory, but accepted pro- posals for peace from Theodosius II. After a nine years' war with the Ephthalites, a Tartar tribe on his N. frontier, he expelled their mon- arch. He compelled the Armenians by force of arms to accept Zoroastrianism ; their patri- arch Joseph and other bishops were martyred. In an expedition against the insurgent Ephtha- lites Yezdegerd was drawn into an ambush and defeated, and soon after died. Yezdegerd III., born about 617, reigned from 632 to 651. He at once had to contend with the Moslem invaders. In 636 was fought the battle of Cadesia (Kadisiyeh), lasting four days, in which the Persians were defeated and their renowned general Rustam was slain. In 637 Ctesiphon, the Persian capital, fell into the hands of the Arabs, and at Jalula soon after the Moham- medans were again victorious. In 641 Yez- degerd collected at Nehavend an army of 150,000 men, but, outwitted by Noman, a gen- eral of the caliph Omar, was defeated by a much inferior force. This battle overthrew the Sassanian power. Yezdegerd lived ten years a fugitive, and was at last slain by one of his own former subjects. (See SASSANID^E, and PERSIA.) YEZO, or Yesso, formerly the name of the uncivilized part of Japan above lat. 38 N., now of one of the four large islands of Japan, between lat. 41 24' and 45 31' N., and Ion. 139 40' and 146 7' E., separated from Sa- ghalien or Karafto on the north by La Pe>ouse strait, and on the south from the main island of Japan by the narrow strait of Tsugaru; extreme length, 290 m. ; breadth, 245 m. ; es- timated area, about 30,000 sq. m. ; pop. about 125,000. The coast is bold and rocky, but in- dented with several good harbors. The sur- face generally is mountainous, with many vol- canoes, solfataras, and hot springs. There are some small lakes and numerous mountain tor- rents. The principal river is the Ishikari, ri- sing near the middle of the K part of the isl- and and flowing S. "W. about 165 m. to Stro- gonoff bay. Bears, wolves, deer, and all kinds of sea fowl abound. The principal produc- ions are coal, petroleum, salt, sulphur, timber (of which 33 valuable kinds are found), deer skins, dried fish, and fish oil. The population, including some Chinese, Europeans, and Amer- icans, is settled chiefly in the south. The north is thinly inhabited by Ainos, who number about 20,000, living in a few fishing villages. The interior was entirely unsettled and unexplored till the present government took steps for colo- nizing the island, employing Americans, who have explored a great part of the country, built roads, laid out farms, and introduced stock and seeds from the United States. The chief towns are Hakodate (Hakodadi), Mat- sumae, Esashi, and Sapporo. (See JAPAN.) YOKOHAMA (Jap., Cross Strand), a seaport city on the E. side of the main island of Japan, on the W. shore of the bay of Yedo, 15 m. S. by W. of Tokio (Yedo); lat. 35 26' N., Ion. 139