a demand for the wood of this tree. In order that they may produce bow timber sufficiently slender and elastic, the plants should be set in rich sheltered land and very close to each other, so that there may be no side branches of any thickness on the principal stem. This tree is naturally inclined to throw out horizontal spray, like the common pine, in which case it is of little use to the bow-maker.

The general culture of these trees resembles that which is applied to the pine tribe, with this difference, that they may be more readily propagated by cuttings than the generality of needle-leaved trees. When this plan is adopted, shoots of nine inches in length should be selected either in the month of April or August, taking care to cut them immediately below the last year's growth, so that a small portion of the wood which is two years old may adhere to each. If this be attended to they will strike root more readily. The lower leaves should be trimmed off at bottom, and the slips planted in a sheltered and shady border of light sandy soil. In the course of two years they will be sufficiently rooted to be removed into nursery lines, where they may remain for two years more previous to their final transplantation. If the plants are to be raised from seeds, which is the process most generally adopted, the berries should be gathered in October and immediately sown in very loose friable soil, in such land as is likely to retain these qualities for two years or more, for the plants will not all appear till the second spring; and if the seeds be placed in firm clayey soil, the likelihood is that it becomes so hardened by the weather that no vegetating power can break through it, and, consequently, a very meagre crop is the result.

On account of the slowness of its growth, and the comparative smallness of size it attains to, the yew will never be in general use as a timber tree, though its wood has been represented as superior to any other for the purposes of the cabinet-maker. When its texture is close, it produces a beautiful surface equal to that of the finest mahogany; whilst its roots are in great request, on account of their richly marbled appearances, for small fancy articles. The tree in its living state is generally valued for its use in

hedges, in protecting tender plants, and in affording food and shelter to a portion of the winged tribes. It is a tree from which the nightingale delights to serenade the favoured inhabitants of our suburban villas, and its thick shelter is sought after by blackbirds, thrushes, and singing birds in general, during the cold of winter.

Its chief charm, however, consists in its singular adaptation for adorning the places of the dead, and other scenes of a sorrowful and hallowed description. Nothing could be more proper than such a selection; and whilst we have often to object to the misapplication of such objects, we have to recommend the general use of this tree as above all others appropriate. The pine is a gloomy looking tree; but, upon seeing it by the grave-yard, we cannot help tracing its descent from the mountain top, its native abode, and, consequently, it appears to us there as if it were from home the weeping willow, again, like every other tree of the genus, is occasionally gay, rejoicing in the gale at intervals,—a tree of the living, and of the bright world rather than of the land of "deep forgetfulness." It has its sorrow, but it is that of a season only: like an April day, it has "tears and smiles together;" whereas a yew is constant in its sadness: in all times and seasons it wears the same funereal hue, and seems to delight in that character.

In like manner, beside churches, cathedrals, pillars, and statues, the yew forms a very pleasing and harmonious object. It is a tree upon which antiquarians look with delight. In the courts of the ruined hall its sad and lonely appearance confers an additional interest upon the surrounding scenes.

We cannot help thinking that there are many situations which might be considerably improved by the aid of this tree. In Norfolk the yew is very scarce, and in its churchyards almost unknown. We are miserably behind continental nations in the respect we pay to the decorating of the depositories of the dead. Some of our churchyards are absolute wastes-without a tree of any description-as if our country had been only recently inhabited by civilized

beings. No foreigner, who had not visited our rural districts, would believe that the places which contain the ashes of our departed friends are shrubless, treeless patches of land, where the face of savage Nature is scarcely subdued, and where the storm and the tempest riot as they may. It is obvious to every one, that a few trees would not only afford shelter to such places, but induce birds to perch there and give their song. Shall we be asked what real use the singing of a bird would be in such a situation?