Books published by publisher John van Voorst

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1842 Excerpt: ... Genus Carpinus, Linn. Linn. Syst. Montecia Polyamtria. Carpinu s betulus. Linn. COMMON HORNBEAM. Common, and widely diffused as the Hornbeam is found throughout the greater part of the kingdom, it is nevertheless much better known as an underwood or as a hedge plant, than in its form of a timber tree with dimensions sufficient to place it among those of the second, if not of the first rank. Sir J. E. Smith, indeed, and Sir W. J. Hooker, in their botanical works, call it a small and low tree, but this is by no means its general character, or applicable to it when allowed to grow unmutilated and in soils suited to its habit; under favourable circumstances it attains a height of from forty to fifty feet, with a trunk of commensurate thickness, and which often reaches a circumference of six or eight feet. Specifically the Hornbeam is distinguished, according to Smith, by the bracteas of the fruit being oblong, flat, serrated, with two lateral lobes. In general form and appearance it bears a considerable resemblance to the beech, though its head is even closer, more rounded, or what may be termed cabbage-like, being composed of a confused assemblage of long flexible branches, and usually destitute of any prominent or determinate leader. The leaves are without the gloss of those of the beech, and are not unlike those of the elm; they are pointed and doubly serrated, with numerous parallel, transverse, hairy ribs, and when expanding are beautifully crimped or plaited. The barren, or male catkins, are two or three inches long, loose and scaly, of a yellow colour; and the female catkins, which when young are covered with close brownish scales, become gradually enlarged, "and," as Sir J. E. Smith describes them, " form unequally three-lobed, sharplyserrated, veiny, d...