The Hornbeams 



like cluster of little pale green sacs, each with a shining seed 

 inside. 



The hop hornbeam is of a retiring disposition, preferring to 

 hide in the shadows of taller trees. But there is nothing dark or 

 funereal about it. The leaves, bright and green, are held out in 

 level platforms where they can get the sunbeams that trickle 

 down to them. Then comes summer, and the pale green "hops" 

 make the tree a centre that seems to shed light into dark places. 

 The little hop tree, Ptelea trifoliata, is shining in its corner, and at 

 a short distance the two trees might be confused. Each one is a 

 blessed sight on a hot day, for pale green against dark green is 

 always a cool colour scheme. 



In the late autumn, after the leaves turn yellow and fall, the 

 hops still hang, grudgingly giving up one little seed balloon after 

 another to the insistent wind. There is likely to be a long sail 

 for each one, and perhaps more than one, for until the bag is 

 punctured and the seed covered, the wind gives it no rest. 



The wood of the hop hornbeam is vexatious stuff for the 

 turner, and whoever else tries tool upon it. But once it takes 

 shape it lasts indefinitely. Sled stakes, levers, rake teeth, 

 tool handles, wedges, do not soon need replacing if made 

 of this material. It is equally satisfactory when used for 

 fence posts. 



The parks about Boston have beautiful specimens of the 

 hop hornbeam, showing that its merits as an ornamental tree 

 are being recognised by the best judges. The next step will be 

 its increasing popularity for private grounds. 



The Western Iron wood (O. Knowltoni), which was dis- 

 covered in Arizona but a few years ago, is smaller in every way 

 than the Eastern species, but every trait proclaims it a hop 

 hornbeam. The leaves, catkins and hops are short and blunt 

 pointed. The protective pubescence which belongs to desert 

 plants is on the young shoots and the leaves and fruits of this 

 tree. Its limbs are often gnarled, but it forms a rounded sym- 

 metrical top, and is sometimes 30 feet high. 



The tree is probably one of the rarest in the country, for as 

 far as known it has not been found except in one locality, where 

 it has formed a considerable grove. How this species has been 

 cut off from its near relative in the East is a problem worthy 

 of investigation. 



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