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102 The Trees <strong>of</strong> Great Britain and Ireland<br />
specimen <strong>of</strong> bog-yew, drew attention in 1903 to <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> yew in Ballyfin<br />
bog in Queen's County. It was so plentiful <strong>the</strong>re in former times that <strong>the</strong><br />
farmers in <strong>the</strong> neighbourhood used it for gate - posts and in ro<strong>of</strong>ing houses.<br />
Mr. J. Adams has published a short account 1 <strong>of</strong> Mr. Cole's discovery, from<br />
which it appears that <strong>the</strong> cross-section <strong>of</strong> one trunk, 2 feet in diameter, showed<br />
no less than 395 annual rings. Ano<strong>the</strong>r specimen showed 123 rings, only occupy<br />
ing a width <strong>of</strong> i^ inches. Mr. Cole informs me that in no case where <strong>the</strong><br />
root was vertical did he find more than 18 inches deep <strong>of</strong> peat beneath; in o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bog where <strong>the</strong> yews were found more deeply buried, <strong>the</strong>ir roots were<br />
twisted and out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir natural position, and were probably carried <strong>the</strong>re by floods.<br />
Apparently <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> yew, unlike <strong>the</strong> common pine, never grew in any <strong>great</strong> depth<br />
<strong>of</strong> peat.<br />
Large trunks <strong>of</strong> yew were formerly dug up on <strong>the</strong> shore <strong>of</strong> Magilligan in<br />
Co. Derry, between <strong>the</strong> rocks and <strong>the</strong> sea. 2 On <strong>the</strong> east side <strong>of</strong> Glenveigh, in<br />
Co. Donegal, thick logs are reported to be <strong>of</strong>ten found in <strong>the</strong> peat. 8<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Kew Museum <strong>the</strong>re is a specimen <strong>of</strong> fossil yew, which was dug up in<br />
Hatfield Chase, near Thorne, Yorkshire, from under a bed <strong>of</strong> clay 6 feet in<br />
thickness; and ano<strong>the</strong>r specimen is labelled, " Submarine Forest, Stogursey,<br />
Somersetshire."<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Seeley, F.R.S., in a very interesting letter, dated January 1904, says<br />
that he has seen " <strong>the</strong> broken stumps <strong>of</strong> yew <strong>trees</strong> standing as <strong>the</strong>y grew by scores,<br />
possibly by hundreds, in Mildenhall Fen, about 1865, when <strong>the</strong> peat was entirely<br />
removed so as to prepare <strong>the</strong> land for corn. One tree sketched by Mr. Marshall,<br />
at that time Coroner for <strong>the</strong> Isle <strong>of</strong> Ely, from a section between Ely and Downham<br />
Market, showed <strong>the</strong> yew growing in sandy gravel with black flints. The roots were<br />
entirely in <strong>the</strong> gravel. Above <strong>the</strong> gravel is <strong>the</strong> ' Buttery Clay,' 2 feet 6 inches thick,<br />
into which <strong>the</strong> trunk <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tree extended vertically, rising about i foot into <strong>the</strong><br />
Upper Peat, which was 4 feet 6 inches thick. This clay is marine, and is <strong>the</strong> delta<br />
mud <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cam and <strong>the</strong> Ouse deposited on <strong>the</strong> Lower Peat and beyond it, where<br />
a depression <strong>of</strong> land admitted <strong>the</strong> sea over <strong>the</strong> Isle <strong>of</strong> Ely and killed <strong>the</strong> forests.<br />
A little part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scrobicularia Clay is 6 feet thick, and <strong>the</strong> peat above it 18 feet<br />
thick. The common <strong>trees</strong> in <strong>the</strong> peat <strong>the</strong>re are pines and oaks. I have never seen<br />
<strong>the</strong> beech, and never heard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lime. About <strong>the</strong> pine <strong>the</strong>re is no doubt. It<br />
occurred in <strong>the</strong> forests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Forest Bed <strong>of</strong> Norfolk, and at several localities in <strong>the</strong><br />
peat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fens, almost always on clay covered by peat."<br />
In <strong>the</strong> present day <strong>the</strong> common yew is met with growing wild in most parts <strong>of</strong><br />
Europe, from Scandinavia to <strong>the</strong> Mediterranean, and from <strong>the</strong> Atlantic to <strong>the</strong><br />
western provinces <strong>of</strong> Russia. It has only recently become extinct in <strong>the</strong> Azores.<br />
It also occurs in Algeria, Asia Minor, <strong>the</strong> Caucasus, North Persia, <strong>the</strong> Himalayas,<br />
and Burma. The yew also extends into <strong>the</strong> mountains <strong>of</strong> Sumatra, South Celebes,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Philippines.4<br />
1 Irish Naturalist, xiv. 1905, p. 34, with plate showing yew trunk and transverse section.<br />
2 Mackay, Flora Hibernica, 260 (1836).<br />
3 Hart, Flora County Donegal, 237 (1898).<br />
4 Specimens from <strong>the</strong>se localities have been identified by Pilger as <strong>the</strong> Himalayan yew.<br />
Taxus 103<br />
In England <strong>the</strong> yew is indigenous on all <strong>the</strong> chalky Downs <strong>of</strong> Sussex,<br />
Hampshire, and Wilts. According to Bromfield, 1 <strong>the</strong> yew is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> few<br />
natural ornaments <strong>of</strong> our South Downs, over <strong>the</strong> bare sides and summits <strong>of</strong> which<br />
it is scattered abundantly as single <strong>trees</strong>, frequently <strong>of</strong> <strong>great</strong> size and antiquity ;<br />
sometimes in groups; more rarely forming groves in <strong>the</strong> bottoms or valleys<br />
between <strong>the</strong>se rounded hills, or in <strong>the</strong> steep woods which clo<strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir sheltered<br />
slopes. He mentions as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most remarkable <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se yew groves, that at<br />
Kingsley Bottom, near Chichester. The yew is remarkably plentiful on <strong>the</strong> banks<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Wye, about Chepstow and Tintern, and grows in <strong>the</strong> most inaccessible<br />
positions on <strong>the</strong> limestone cliffs <strong>the</strong>re, as it does also on <strong>the</strong> rocks <strong>of</strong> Matlock. The<br />
rocks at Borrodale and on Conzie Scar, near Kendal, are also truly natural stations<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yew. 2 The yew is frequent in <strong>the</strong> woods <strong>of</strong> Monmouthshire, and in <strong>the</strong><br />
ancient forest <strong>of</strong> Cranbourne Chase in Dorsetshire. 8 In <strong>the</strong> Wyre Forest it is<br />
certainly wild, occurring now as isolated <strong>trees</strong> amidst <strong>the</strong> beech and oak. In<br />
Seckley Wood, on <strong>the</strong> Severn, <strong>the</strong>re are indigenous yew <strong>trees</strong>, one <strong>of</strong> which is<br />
remarkable for its curious pendulous habit. 4 It ascends to 1500 feet in Northumber<br />
land. 5<br />
Concerning <strong>the</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yew as a wild plant in Scotland our informa<br />
tion is scanty. Hooker 6 states that it is indigenous as far north as Aberdeen and<br />
Argyll. White 6 records it from Breadalbane in Perthshire. Lightfoot, 7 writing in<br />
1777, says it was found here and <strong>the</strong>re in <strong>the</strong> Highlands in a truly wild state, and<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re were <strong>the</strong> remains <strong>of</strong> an old wood <strong>of</strong> yew at Glenure in Upper Lorn,<br />
Argyllshire.<br />
It is now <strong>of</strong> rare occurrence in <strong>the</strong> wild state in Ireland. According to<br />
Praeger,8 it is found on rocks, cliffs, in old woods, and on lake shores, now almost<br />
confined to <strong>the</strong> west. It is recorded from various localities from Kerry to Donegal,<br />
and Praeger considers that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se instances may represent <strong>the</strong> last remnants<br />
<strong>of</strong> aboriginal stock ; but it is impossible now to say definitely, as introduced <strong>trees</strong><br />
grow around <strong>the</strong> supposed wild ones. The yews in <strong>the</strong> rough wood at Avondale, in<br />
Wicklow, may be wild. Many years ago Moore 9 found <strong>the</strong> yew growing at<br />
Benyevena, in Co. Derry, in <strong>the</strong> crevices <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rocks, at an elevation <strong>of</strong> 1200 feet,<br />
when it assumed <strong>the</strong> appearance <strong>of</strong> a low shrub. In Smith's Kerry ( 1756), it<br />
is stated that " <strong>the</strong> yew grew in prodigious quantities in all our sou<strong>the</strong>rn baronies<br />
until it was destroyed for making coals for <strong>the</strong> iron-works." 10<br />
In Norway <strong>the</strong> yew is called " Barlind," and, according to Schubeler," grows<br />
wild only in <strong>the</strong> south, especially along <strong>the</strong> coast, <strong>the</strong> far<strong>the</strong>st point north known to<br />
him being near Sondmore, in lat. 62" 30" N., where it attains <strong>the</strong> height <strong>of</strong> 32 feet.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> east it does not extend far<strong>the</strong>r north than Hurdalen, lat. 60 35', where it<br />
attains a height <strong>of</strong> 8 -10 feet. Schubeler mentions as <strong>the</strong> largest yews known<br />
1 Flora Vectensis, p. 472.<br />
3 Strangways in London's Card. Mag. 1 839, p. 119.<br />
6 Stud. Flora Brit. Islands, 369 (1878).<br />
1 Flora Scotica, ii. 626 (1777).<br />
0 Mackay, Flora Hibernica, 260 (1836).<br />
11 Schubeler, Viridarittm Norvegicum, p. 448.<br />
2 Lowe, loc. cit. p. 28.<br />
4 Trans. Worcester Nat. Hist. Club, 1 847-1896, p. 16.<br />
8 Flora <strong>of</strong> Perthshire, 283 (1898).<br />
8 Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. vii. 290 (1901).<br />
10 Cybele Hibernica, 3 31 (1898).