THE HORNBEAM. 317 



at any rate every other 3'ear, so that its power of reproduction 

 by seed is on the whole great. 



The reproduction from the stool is excellent ; the shoots 

 appear at any part which has been coppiced. The stools last for 

 hundreds of years ; the tree is eminently suited for pollarding. 



/. Clutrarh'T (ind Coiii/wsifio/i. of Woo/Is. 



Hornbeam appears in pure woods in Eastern Europe, and 

 also in England (Epping Forest). It is not equal to beech in 

 its capacity for improving the fertility of the soil, since it has 

 a lighter foliage, does not maintain a cover overhead so long, 

 and does not bear so much shade ; the leaves also decompose 

 more rapidly than those of beech. At the same time, it stands 

 next to beech in this respect amongst broad leaved species, and 

 may replace it in localities unsuited for beech. 



Hornbeam appears chiefly in mixture with beech and oak, 

 but also, like the beech, with other species, but not to the 

 same extent. 



//. Sijlvkiiltaral SijstemH. 



Hornbeam can be grown as high forest, coppice, or pollards. 

 It appears as underwood in coppice with standards, and makes 

 an excellent soil protection wood in open woods of valuable 

 timber trees. It also makes excellent hedges. 



As high forest, it would generally be treated under a 

 rotation not exceeding 100 years, as coppice from 15 to 35 

 years, and as pollards from 5 to 10 years. 



It. FortiK/fio/i of Woo(/)i. 



Hornbeam can be sown, planted, or naturally regenerated ; 

 the latter is a suitable method. Sowings and plantings do 

 not require shelter. 



The seed ripens in October, and falls from that time until 

 towards spring ; it keeps its germinating power for two or 

 three years ; up to 80 per cent, are capable of germinating ; it 

 is good seed if 65 per cent, germinate. One pound contains 

 on an average about 15,000 clean seeds without wings. 



