OF FOREST-TREES. 



141 



as well flexible as tough, it was called r^vyia., heads of beetles, stocks and CHAP. VI. 

 handles of tools are made of it. It is likewise for the turner's use excel- ^'■^^^^ 

 lent. It makes good fire-wood, where it burns like a candle ; and was of 

 old so employed : 



Carpinus tsedas fissa facesque dabit. 



This sort grows to the height of thirty feet, and is of quick growth. It sheds its leaves in 

 autumn, about the same time with the Elm. During the time of its verdure, it maices a good 

 appearance, being clothed with leaves of a deep green colour, resembling the long-leaved 

 Elm more than the Horn-beam. 



The Horn-beam, in the Linnaean system, is ranked in the class and order Monoecia 

 Polyandria, which comprehends such plants as have male and female flowers on the same 

 plant, the male flowers having numerous stamina. The leaves begin to open about the 

 latter end of March, and are quite out by the middle of April ; and the flowers are in full 

 bloom towards the end of that month. 



The common Horn-beam is raised from seeds, as already observed, but the other kinds 

 are propagated by layers, for which purpose a few plants should be procured for stools ; 

 those, for the Eastern Horn-beam, should be planted a yard asunder, and the others 

 about two yards. After the plants have made some young shoots, they should be layered 

 in the autumn, and by that time twelve months they will have struck root ; at which time, 

 or early in the spring, they should be taken off and planted in the nursery, observing to 

 brush up the stools, that they may afford young shoots to be layered the succeeding 

 autumn. 



In Westphalia, and other parts of North Germany, the Horn-beam is in great repute. 

 There they make a hedge of it which answers Columella's description of a good fence : 



______ Neu sit pecori, neu pervia furi. de hort. 



When the German husbandman erects a fence of Horn-beam, he throws up a parapet of 

 earth, with a ditch on each side, and plants his sets (raised from layers) in such a manner, 

 as that every two plants may be brought to intersect each other in the form of a St. An- 

 drew's cross. In that part where the two plants cross each other, he scrapes off the bark, 

 and binds them closely together with straw. In consequence of this operation, the two 

 plants consolidate in a sort of indissoluble knot, and push from thence horizontal, slanting 

 shoots, which form a living palisado, or chevaux de frize ; so that such a protection may be 

 called a rural fortification. These hedges, being pruned annually, and with discretion, 

 will, in a few years, render the fence impenetrable in every part. It is not uncommon in 

 Germany to see the sides of high roads thus guai'ded for many miles together ; and it were 

 to be wished that this example was followed in some places of this kingdom. I am the 

 more inclined to recommend such hedges, as the Horn-beam is not delicate in point of 

 soil, but will even thrive on land seemingly barren. When properly pruned, it will put 

 out strong lateral shoots, within three inches of the ground, by which means it makes an 

 impenetrable fence against cattle. It is also of quick growth ; a thing of great consequence 

 in the improvement of waste land. 



