HORNBEAM 67 



and the central parks, have reached the height of 

 50 feet and attained an age of fully one hundred 

 years. The numerous trees of this kind on the banks 

 of the Regent's Canal, which were planted on the 

 slopes when this waterway was cut out over a century 

 ago, have attained to a fair size, some of the stems 

 being fully 6 feet in girth, while the healthy, plenti- 

 fully produced leaves would lead one to believe that 

 this tree is quite at home in the northern district 

 of the Metropolis. The Hornbeam is often confused 

 with the Beech, but not only is it of smaller growth 

 and of more trim appearance, but the leaves are 

 rougher, more deeply serrated, and with the venations 

 more pronounced, while the bark is dark and smooth 

 and the stem usually deeply fluted. The hop-like 

 catkins of the female flowers are quite unlike those of 

 the Beech and render recognition an easy matter. 



Apart from the value of the tree in the formation 

 of hedges on exposed high-lying ground and where 

 the soil is of a stiff nature, the timber of the Horn- 

 beam is of considerable utility. It is remarkably 

 close-grained and even of texture, and for making 

 skittles and shoemakers' lasts and saw-mill rollers and 

 cogs for gearing it has perhaps no equal. 



Seeds are freely produced, in England at least, 

 and should be collected and sown in October. As, 

 however, the seeds usually remain dormant for twelve 

 months after becoming ripe, it is advisable to mix 

 them with sand and not sow till the following April. 

 The seedlings are quite proof against frost. 



