272 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



rank growth of grass. Reproduction of elms can also take 

 place by layering, as is extensively practised in Holland ; but 

 this is rather a matter for the arboriculturist than the sylvi- 

 culturist. Layering and planting take place most advan- 

 tageously in autumn, from the middle of October till the 

 middle of November, as the movement of the sap begins 

 early in spring. As in the case of the maples, planting may be 

 either performed by notching and replacement of the sod, 

 or by pit-planting with the hand, either operation being 

 easy and without any special peculiarities. 



4. HORNBEAM (CARPINUS BETULUS, L.) 



Distribution. The hornbeam is described as being in- 

 digenous from the south-west of France eastwards across 

 central and eastern Europe to Persia, northwards to England 

 and Ireland (but not Scotland) and the southern portion of 

 Sweden, and southwards to lower Italy and Greece. The 

 evidence of historical records goes, however, to prove that 

 it was not originally among the forest trees of England, but 

 was introduced from the Continent before the close of the 

 fifteenth century. Its vertical distribution is limited to 

 about 3,300 feet in the Swiss Alps, 2,900 feet in the 

 Bavarian Alps, 2,600 feet in the Vosges and the Black 

 Forest, and 1,200 feet on the Harz mountains. Although 

 not liable to suffer from cold, it does not stretch far north- 

 wards, its growth being practically limited as a forest tree by 

 the German Ocean and the Baltic. It hardly belongs to the 

 ruling species of forest trees, although in eastern Russia, 

 and beyond the Weichsel and the Oder, where the beech 

 ceases to form forests its place is taken to a great extent by 

 the hornbeam, which there attains excellent growth, and 

 covers an area of immense extent. It is prized rather for 



