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 Estate 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.
