The hop hornbeams are small or medium-sized trees with slender spreading branches forming a round or open head, with handsome bright green foliage, and rather inconspicuous flowers appearing with or before the leaves, followed by the attractive light green strobiles contrasting with the darker foliage. They are hardy and slow-growing, well adapted for planting in dry and exposed localities. The heavy and tough, very close-grained wood is used chiefly for fence-posts, handles of tools and other small articles. Propagation is by seed sown soon after maturity or stratified, otherwise it will usually not germinate until the second year; rarer kinds may be grafted on a common species or on the hornbeam. | The hop hornbeams are small or medium-sized trees with slender spreading branches forming a round or open head, with handsome bright green foliage, and rather inconspicuous flowers appearing with or before the leaves, followed by the attractive light green strobiles contrasting with the darker foliage. They are hardy and slow-growing, well adapted for planting in dry and exposed localities. The heavy and tough, very close-grained wood is used chiefly for fence-posts, handles of tools and other small articles. Propagation is by seed sown soon after maturity or stratified, otherwise it will usually not germinate until the second year; rarer kinds may be grafted on a common species or on the hornbeam. |