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The hornbeams are trees usually with dense round head, rarely shrubby, with medium-sized, bright green ovate to lanceolate leaves and rather insignificant flowers appearing with the leaves and followed by pendulous catkins consisting of large bracts bearing a small nutlet in their axils. The wood is very hard and close-grained, and much used in making tools and other small articles. The handsome foliage is rarely attacked by insects, and assumes a yellow or scarlet color in fall. The most beautiful are C. cordata, with large leaves, and C. japonica, of graceful habit and with elegant foliage. The European hornbeam bears severe pruning well, and is very valuable for high hedges; it was formerly much used in the old formal gardens for this purpose; it makes, also, an excellent game cover, as it retains its withered foliage almost throughout the winter.

The hornbeams are trees usually with dense round head, rarely shrubby, with medium-sized, bright green ovate to lanceolate leaves and rather insignificant flowers appearing with the leaves and followed by pendulous catkins consisting of large bracts bearing a small nutlet in their axils. The wood is very hard and close-grained, and much used in making tools and other small articles. The handsome foliage is rarely attacked by insects, and assumes a yellow or scarlet color in fall. The most beautiful are C. cordata, with large leaves, and C. japonica, of graceful habit and with elegant foliage. The European hornbeam bears severe pruning well, and is very valuable for high hedges; it was formerly much used in the old formal gardens for this purpose; it makes, also, an excellent game cover, as it retains its withered foliage almost throughout the winter.

The species are of comparatively slow growth and thrive in almost any soil, and even in dry, rocky situations; most of them are quite hardy North. Propagated by seeds, sown usually in fall, germinating very irregularly; if they do not appear the first spring, the seedbed should be covered until the following spring with moss or leaf-mold, to keep the soil moist. If intended for hedges, the seedlings should be transplanted after the first year, and allowed sufficient space to prevent them from growing into slender tall plants, unfit for hedges. The varieties of rarer species are grafted in spring under glass, or in the open air on seedlings of one of the common species.

The species are of comparatively slow growth and thrive in almost any soil, and even in dry, rocky situations; most of them are quite hardy North. Propagated by seeds, sown usually in fall, germinating very irregularly; if they do not appear the first spring, the seedbed should be covered until the following spring with moss or leaf-mold, to keep the soil moist. If intended for hedges, the seedlings should be transplanted after the first year, and allowed sufficient space to prevent them from growing into slender tall plants, unfit for hedges. The varieties of rarer species are grafted in spring under glass, or in the open air on seedlings of one of the common species.

 

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