68 TREE-PLANTING. 



the same plant. The common Hornbeam, which is 

 the principal tree in this small division C. Bettila, is 

 met with in England, Ireland, the south of Scotland, 

 and in many parts of central Europe, avoiding 

 climates which are either extremely hot or very cold, 

 being indigenous to the countries I have named. 



In appearance it bears a strong family likeness to 

 the beech, but its leaves are not so bright and shining 

 as those of the latter tree. It does not attain a large 

 size, and is neither valuable as an ornamental tree 

 nor for timber, standing between the birch and the 

 elm as regards size. It grows close and twiggy, 

 retaining its leaves a long while, like the beech, the 

 qualities which mark it rendering it undesirable as a 

 timber tree, causing it to be most useful as a screen, 

 or protection, when planted thickly round a home- 

 stead or garden ; or to shelter exposed fields, as it 

 will not be injured in exposed situations, and will 

 stand the effect of rough winds well. As a hedge 

 plant it is better than beech in some respects, for its 

 roots deriving nourishment at a greater depth from 

 the surface of the soil, it is less injurious to neighbour- 

 ing growing crops. Although it readily springs when 

 lopped over at the surface, or at any height from the 

 root, it does not form so compact and bushy a hedge 

 as the beech perhaps, though it attains a greater 

 height during the first six or eight years of its growth, 

 its leaves do not hang so uniformly throughout the 

 winter as do those of the beech a very important 

 consideration when shelter is needed, especially in the 

 form of a hedge. These are its leading features, 

 which may be weighed and balanced, pro and con. 

 Abutting a lane or highroad, in the shape of a hedge, 



