368 THE OAK FAMILY. 



Tatton Park, not far from the " Temple." Prestwich church-yard, where lie the 

 earthly remains of Jolm Horsefield, is planted all round with handsome beeches. 



3. Spanish Chesnut — [Castdnea vesca.) 



Parks and plantations, common, but scarcely to be considered wild 



in any case. Many fine specimens occur in Dunham Park, about 



Sedgeley, beyond Pendleton, at Witlienshaw, and at Alderley. Fl. 



June. 



E. B. xiii. 886 (as Fagus Castdnea) ; Baxter, \i. 485. 



In fine seasons the chesnut ripens fruit freely, hut it is not to be depended on. 

 It is immediately distinguished from eveiy other of nature's glorious sun-shades 

 by the very large, simple, and symmetrically lanceolate leaves, with strong veins 

 running parallel from the midrib to the margin, and extending beyond it in the 

 form of little prickles. The " /jorse-chesnut," with which this splendid tree is 

 often confounded, is quite a different thing, having compound and quinate leaves, 

 as figured on page 157, as well as vast racemes of superb white flowers, whereas 

 in the sweet or Siianish chesnut they are green, and though plentiful, inconspic- 

 uous. The only resemblance between the two trees, after their stature, is in the 

 fruit, the nuts of the Spanish chesnut being about the same size and of the same 

 colour (though not so polished) as the seeds of its magnificent rival. The husks 

 of the latter have but few j^rickles, whereas in the sweet chesnut they are like 

 hedgehogs. 



4. Hornbeam — (Carpinus Betulus.) 

 Hedges, plantations, and doughs, common. Abundant in Dunham 

 Park, and about Mobberley, especially in Burley-Hurst Wood, but 

 difficult to determine as an aboriginal. Apparently wild on the banks 

 of the Goyt, below Strines. Fl. April. 



E. B. xxix. 9032 ; Baxter, iii. 2U. 



5. Common Oak — {Querctis pedunculnta.) 

 Woods and hedges, everywhere, but in general indifferently grown, 

 and really fine only at a distance of at least seven or eight miles, as in 

 Dunham Park ; Oughtrington Park, Lyram ; and at Alderley. At 

 Marston, near Congleton, there is a wonderful old tree of this species, 

 with a hollow trunk of capacity enough to surround a little flower- 

 garden ! Another fine old monument stands in Mere Park, near the 

 old Hall, said to be fourteen yards round at the base, and with 

 rabbits' burrows among the roots. A third, of remarkably fine pro- 

 portions, but comparatively a youngster, lifts its great green pyramid 

 at the entrance to Pcckfortoii Castle, near the gate. Acorns ripen 

 within a distance of two miles of the town. Fl. May. Fruit in 

 September. 



E. B. xix. VM'l; Baxter, v. 'MV (bolh as Quercus Robur). 



