HORNBEAM OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 215 



family (Proteaceae). They are called Honeysuckles on account 

 of tlieir flowers being full of a sweet liquid like honey, wliich is 

 sucked by the natives ; it is so abundant in B. ericifolia and B. 

 Cunninghamii that when in flower the ground underneath large 

 cultivated plants is in a complete state of puddle ; bees and 

 wasps become intoxicated, and many lose their lives in it. 



Honeysuckle, Common. {See Woodbine.) 



Hop {Humidus Lwpulus), a well-known perennial plant of 

 the Hemp family (Cannabinacese), found wild in the eastern 

 parts of Europe, and known to the ancients. It is now generally 

 cultivated throughout Europe ; it was introduced into England 

 about 300 years ago. The female flowers consist of leafy cone- 

 like catkins (strobili) of a light colour, which are called Hops, 

 and are well known as giving the best bitter to beer. The plant 

 is extensively cultivated, more especially in Kent, where the 

 finest Hops are produced. Like its congener Hemp, Hop is a 

 good fibre plant, and in Sweden the manufacture of Hop yarn 

 and linen has long been an established branch of industry. 



Hornbeam, Common {Carpinus Betulus), a small bushy tree 

 of the Oak family (CupuliferEc), native of Europe, North 

 America, and the Levant. Its wood is white, hard, heavy, 

 very close-grained and tenacious ; it is used for many domestic 

 purposes where large timber is not required. It makes an 

 excellent hedge plant, bears pruning and clipping, and in age 

 becomes very stiff. 



Hornbeam, Hop {Ostrya vulgaris), a tree of the Oak family 

 (Cupuliferse), attaining a height of 30 or 40 feet, native of 

 Southern Europe and North America. In general appearance 

 it is similar to the Common Hornbeam, but it is readily dis- 

 tinguished by its female catkins consisting of blunt scales, which 

 are closely imbricate, and when perfect are white, resembling 

 the female catkin of the hop, but it contains no bitter principle. 

 As a tree it possesses no special properties, except that it is 

 ornamental, especially when loaded with its white catkins. A 

 fine specimen more than 100 years old is to be seen in the 

 original part of the Botanic Garden, Kew. 



