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The timber is of little value, although it is 

 very hard. An old writer, in alluding to it, says : 

 " It waxeth so hard that the toughness of it 

 " may be rather compared to horn than unto 

 " wood, and therefore it was called hornbeam or 

 •' hard beam." As underwood it is equally un- 

 profitable, as it cannot be rived for making 

 hurdles, and is suitable only for stakes and 

 faggot- wood. 



The hornbeam thrives well in the strongest 

 clay land. As a hedge plant or screen, it has 

 no superior among our deciduous trees. In this 

 particular it is better than the beech, for as the 

 roots go down, it is less harmful to neighbouring 

 plants. It is amenable to the pruning-knife, and 

 the leaves are often retained till late in the winter. 

 The nuts of the hornbeam attracSt that charming 

 little visitor, the hawfinch. 



