He reported that most of the seedlings from seed of Taxus baccata var. Hatfield indicated that the dwarf spreading variety, Taxus cuspidata var. Taxus cuspidata var. The seed source for these seedlings has primarily been from more than 100 selections that have pollinated and fruited from among the various plants of Taxus cuspidata , Taxus baccata , and Taxus x media . There has been no indication of hybridization in the naturally seeded plants in the Secrest Arboretum.
All seedlings have the appearance of a central leader plant.
In 1929, Hatfield reported to the American Plant Propagators Association that of the original English yews, Taxus baccata , only a few plants remained at Hunnewell. He further indicated that the Japanese varieties outperformed the English yew because of unusually severe winters that burned the south side of the plants and otherwise disfigured them. One particular selection, Taxus baccata 'Repandens,' was noted as a presentable performer, and it had an especially good chance to survive because in most winters it was below the snow line. The nursery was started in 1853 by Henry's grandfather, Issac. Henry enrolled at Cornell University in 1888, the same year Liberty Hyde Bailey went there to teach and from there he saw a direction of where to go in his career.