Organic Vegetable Gardening

Grey Alder and Common Hornbeam

The common beech is widespread in western, central and southern Europe, but absent in the northern and eastern parts with severe winters. In the mountains, it occurs even at elevations above 1000 metres. It is a shade-tolerant and vigorous tree that frequently grows in pure stands, but also occurs in mixed stands together with the spruce and fir, and, at lower altitudes, with the oak, hornbeam, and other broad-leaved trees. It attains a height of 30 to 40 metres and develops a long, smooth, silver-grey trunk with a high broad crown. The pointed buds are elongate, measuring 15 to 20 mm in length, and stand away from the twig.

The grey alder is a light-demanding, fast growing tree that is very tolerant and grows well on poorer soils. In central Europe, it is a colonist of alluvial land alongside mountain brooks and streams, occurring at elevations up to 1500 metres. However, it does not require moist soil, and is a colonist of screes and shallow stony slopes. It is sometimes used for afforestation on non-fertile soils which it enriches by means of its nitrogen- fixing nodules. The wood resembles that of the common alder, but is somewhat paler and of little value.

The beech is a slow- growing tree whose fallen leaves enrich the soil and in certain areas it is marked by abundant natural propagation by seed. The hard wood is used to make furniture, parquet flooring, sleepers and cellulose. Its ornamental forms are often planted in parks.

The Spanish chestnut is indigenous to southern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. As early as Roman times, however, it was introduced into more northerly regions, and later it was cultivated in monastery gardens by monks. Today, centuries old specimSns may be found in Great Britain and the whole of western and central Europe. The Spanish chestnut is often a large tree attaining a height of up to 30 metres with a trunk more than two metres in diameter. The oblong-lanceolate, boldly toothed leaves are ornamental.

The flowers of both sexes arc borne in 10 to 20-centimetre-long, upright catkins, the male flowers in the upper part and female flowers in the lower part. They appear in late June Julyand, by autumn, the female flowers develop into spiny burs bearing brownish nuts that are shed during October.

The nuts, which are very tasty, are used by confectioners and also eaten roasted. The tree requires a mild climate and adequate moisture for good growth and a good nut harvest. It is sensitive to late spring and early autumn frosts, is intolerant of lime, and under forest conditions does well even in moderate shade. The high quality, durable wood is used to make furniture, barrels, fencing and also provides tannin.

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