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The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Hornbeam

Hornbeam: But, speaking of hard woods, the palm goes to the Hornbeam, otherwise, for this very reason, known as "Ironwood." You remember my saying of this tree, in November, that it was "little, but oh, how tough!" Now listen to what a student of trees many years ago (as you can see by his deliciously quaint language) said about it: "In time it waxeth so hard that the toughness and hardness of it may be rather compared unto horne than unto wood; and, therefor, it was called Hornebeam." Another writer, speaking of the struggles of the fathers of early New England with this tough but useful little citizen, says: "The Hornebound tree is a tough kind of wood that requires so much paines in the riving as is almost incredible, but is most excellent for to make bolles and dishes, not being subject to cracke or leake." The Romans used this wood for their chariots, and it actually rivals steel in strength and in ability to resist strain. In the early days in this country, when metal was scarce, the wood of the Hornbeam was used for rake teeth, levers, mallets, and particularly for the beams of ox-yokes, just as the Romans used it. Its chief use now is for tool-handles and mallets.

Linden: Better known, commercially, as Basswood. Is light, soft, seasons excellently, and is even-grained and tough. Is used for a wide variety of purposes, among which may be named: woodenware, furniture, pails, kegs, trunks, backing for finer woods used as veneers, boxes, crates, excelsior, and pulp.