Carpinus Bea 
CULTIVATION 
The seeds of the hornbeam ripen in October, but with few exceptions do not 
germinate until after a second winter, and must be treated in the same manner as 
those of the ash. The seedlings though very hardy as regards spring frosts, grow 
slowly at first, and require about four years in the nursery before they are strong 
enough to plant out. Though on sandy soil the tree produces fruit freely and the 
seedlings bear shade as well as those of the beech, yet the hornbeam does not in 
England, as in some parts of France, tend to overpower the oak ; and its economic 
value was formerly much greater than it is now, on account of its being one of the 
very best trees for firewood, It may, however, be used for underplanting, and as a 
nurse for other trees on soils too wet for beech, and is admirably suited for making 
clipped hedges. When the shoots are interlaced they form an impassable barrier, 
and bear clipping as well as any tree. It also bears pollarding and coppicing 
extremely well, some of the old pollards which are seen in the eastern counties being 
of very great age; but when not so treated it does not appear to be a very long-lived 
tree, and rarely exceeds 200 years. In France, Mouillefert says, it lives 100 to 120 
years, and rarely over 150 years, but I think it must considerably exceed this age in 
some parts of England. 
The hornbeam is more critical as to soil and climate than most of our native 
trees; and though Loudon says it is always found on stiff clay and on moist soils 
where scarcely any other timber tree will grow, this is hardly correct. I have never 
seen a really fine tree on any but fertile soils, and though it is the most abundant 
tree of Epping Forest, from which Loudon probably derived his idea; there is not, 
so far as I know, a really fine specimen in that district, though this may be partly 
due to their being nearly all pollards. I searched in vain for self-sown seedlings, 
with roots fit to transplant, and of fifty sent me by Mr. M‘Kenzie, superintendent 
of Epping Forest, only one survived. He tells me that though large numbers of 
seedlings may be seen after a good seed year, yet most of them very soon disappear, 
as the deer and cattle bite them off when not protected by bushes. As a wild tree 
it is principally found in the south-eastern and eastern counties where the lowest 
rainfall occurs, but it grows well in the west and in Ireland, and even as far north 
as Morayshire. Mouillefert says that in France fresh and permeable sandy soils 
suit it best; and that sandy, gravelly, and flinty clays also suit it well, even when 
calcareous, but that it languishes or perishes on those which are too stiff, marshy, 
peaty, or very dry ; and I think this is correct as regards England also. On account 
of its weak development of roots when young it requires shelter at first, and though 
it will stand shade fairly, it succeeds best as an isolated tree when adult. 
As a forest tree it can only be considered of secondary importance, and Forbes 
does not include it in his state Forestry. As as ornamental tree, it has great 
value, both on account of the graceful pendent branches, which when in flower 
and fruit are very beautiful, and for the brilliant yellow colour of the leaves 
in autumn. 
