CHAP. CV. CORYLA‘CEX. GA‘RPINUS. 2007 
covered with a brownish moss. The 1935. ww 4 
tree is extremely patient of the knife; ATHY), 7, 
and the wood unites readily when two ~ SS SN i) x ¥ 
branches are bound together. The . KG = 
hornbeam never grows very fast, but ows x eehy, 
still more slowly when it becomes old. VAQQQATY val { 
In the neighbourhood of London, the rs AV fy) 
\ 
) 
rate of growth may be considered from Va) 
1ft. to 18 in. a year for the first ten “<< a 
years, and the tree will attain its full 
size in between 50 and 60 years: its 
longevity may be considered as equal 
to that of the beech. There is a hand- 
some tree in the grounds of the Duke 
of Devonshire’s villa at Chiswick, of 
which a portrait will be found in our 
last Volume; and figs. 1933. to 1935. 
are portraits of trees at Studley Park. 
Fig. 1933. shows the natural form of the 
head of the tree, where it has room to 4 
expand. Fig. 1934. shows a beech. 
on the right hand, which is 85 ft. high, 
and a hornbeam on the left, which is 
Ky 1 yp? 
show that the hornbeam partakes of the liability of the beech to inosculate. 
The latter are between 50 ft. and 60 ft. high, with handsome well-shaped 
heads. The roots of the hornbeam are numerous, and not only extend far, 
but penetrate deeply into the soil; though the plant cannot be called tap- 
rooted. 
Geography. The common hornbeam is indigenous in France, Germany, 
Italy, and throughout the whole of Central Europe; in Norway and Sweden, 
as far as 55° and 56°, but not to the north of Scania; in the south of Russia, 
and in Caucasus, Armenia, Asia Minor, and all Western Asia; but not in 
Africa. The general range of the hornbeam is in the temperate climates, as 
it seems alike averse from extreme heat and cold. It is a native of England 
and Ireland, and the south of Scotland. According to Watson, it is parti- 
cularly abundant in Kent, Norfolk, Caernarvon, Chester, and Lancaster ; 
( Outlines, &c., p. 255.); and Sir J. E.Smith informs us that it forms “a prin- 
cipal part of the ancient forests on the north and east sides of London; such 
as Epping, Finchley, &c.” (Eng. Flora, iv. p. 156.) It is always found in 
cold, stiff, clayey, moist soils, where scarcely any other timber tree will grow ; 
and in situations bleak, but seldom or never mountainous. 
History, §c. The Greeks supposed the hornbeam to be a kind of maple, 
and called it Zugia, or the yoke tree, in common with the maple; from the use 
made of the wood of both trees for yokes for cattle. The Latins called it 
Carpinus; and under this name it is spoken of by Vitruvius, lib. ii. c. ix. 
Pliny classes it with the maples; though he adds that many naturalists sup- 
pose it to be a genus by itself. He says less about it than about any other 
forest tree; and only remarks that it will thrive equally well on the mountains 
and in the plains. Virgil does not mention it. Some of the old English 
writers considered it a kind of elm. Gerard calls it Betulus sive Carpinus ; 
and his description of it is so curious, that we copy it below. He says that 
“it growes great, and very like unto the elme or wich-hasell tree; having a 
great body, the wood or timber whereof is better for arrowes and shafts, 
ulleyes for mils, and such like devices, than elme or wich-hasell ; for, in time, 
it waxeth so hard, that the toughness and hardnes of it may be rather com- 
ared to horn than unto wood; and therefore it was called hornebeam or 
ard-beam. The leaves of it are like the elme, saving that they be tenderer : 
