656 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[10 Oct., 1910 



THE CHESTNUT. 



F. de Castella, Governnierit Viticulturist. 



The Sweet, or Spanish Chestnut, Casianea vesca, as it is chiefly known 

 to botanists, is one of those numerous valuable trees which are as yet 

 unfamiliar to the majority of Victorians. 



That some trees are grown here and there, is evidenced by the chestnuts 

 to be occasionally seen exposed for sale at different fruit shops in the city. 

 In fact, according to the latest returns of the Victorian Government 

 Statist, 5,003 lbs. were harvested this year, an increase of 1,648 lbs. on 

 the previous year's crop, though in 1908 5,000 lbs. were also harvested. 



Attention has already been drawn by the writer to several other 

 neglected but valuable trees such as the Olive, the Cork Oak, anrl the Carob. 



(/I IK SI M IS NKAR AN! 'I /A'.. 



The suitability of both the climate and soils of fully one-half of this 

 State for the subject of the present article is so marked that it is well 

 to once more draw attention to its claims, in spite of their having been 

 frequently urged in the past, notably by the late Baron von Mueller. 

 several witnes.ses before the Royal Commission on Vegetable Products, 

 and more recently still by Messrs. Crooke and Blackburne of the Forests 

 Department, who include it among the trees they recommend for street 

 planting. 



The chestnut is Avell worth cultivating as an orchard tree, and is recom- 

 mended as such by no less an authority than Profes.sor Wick.son, of Cali- 

 fornia University. It would then, of course, be submitted to intense- 

 culture, and, in consequence, capable of giving abundant returns, but 

 there is another purpo.se for which it is well worthy of attention. 



Shelter trees are becoming a vital necessity with us. Wholesale, 

 and often ill-considered, clearing, has turned immense areas of what were- 



