182 AMENTACE^ 



Etna. This, we are told, had a circumference of 204 feet, and had foolishly- 

 been hollowed out to form a house. 



Trees nearly as old as that of Tortworth are scattered up and down 

 the kingdom. Some very magnificent ones are in Kensington Gardens and 

 Greenwich Park; those in the latter place were planted by Evelyn. He 

 remarks : " The Chestnut is, next to the oak, one of the most sought after 

 by the carpenter and joiner. It hath formerly built a good part of our 

 ancient houses in the City of London, as does yet appear. I had once a 

 very large barn framed of this timber." It was generally believed, until 

 recently, that the roof of Westminster Hall, as well as that of several 

 cathedrals in France, was made of Chestnut timber. Hence Bishop Mant 

 says — 



" Whence a rich stoi'c our fathers drew 

 The spacious barn to raise, or crowu 

 In castled fort or tower'd town, 

 Witli open-rafted roof, tlie wall 

 Of hallow'd church or scutcheon'd hall ; 

 Hence London saw, of antique guise, 

 His framed and panellVl dwellings rise ; 

 Stage above stage projecting more 

 And more, each fresh successive floor, — 

 Hence thou beheld'st thy palace rear 

 Its hall, Imperial Westminster." 



It is not, however, now believed that the Chestnut was used so exten- 

 sively in building as was formerly thought ; and it has been fully shown, 

 that neither the timber of Westminster Hall, nor of John Evelyn's barn, 

 was of Chestnut — they being found to be of Durmast Oak (Qnercus sessili- 

 flora). Chestnut timber does not prove valuable for buildings, having a 

 lial)ility to crack, and to be much injured by time. But for many purposes, 

 as for hop-poles and vine-props, it is of great service ; and one of its uses is 

 indicated by the poet : — 



" AVith close-grained chestnut- wood of sovereign use, 

 For casking up the grape's most powerful juice." 



It is also made into water-pipes ; and its bark is valued by the tanner. 



The leaves of the Chestnut have been used, like those of the beech, for 

 filling beds ; but Evelyn remarks that they make a crackling noise when the 

 sleeper moves. Both in this country and in France they are used as a litter 

 for cattle. Chestnuts, roasted or boiled, may often be seen at our tables, as 

 Milton describes : — 



" While hisses on my hearth the pulpy pear, 

 And blackening chestnuts start and crackle there." 



And the crackling sound is well known to children, who gather around the 

 Christmas hearth to roast these fruits. Some of those chestnuts in common 

 use are gathered from native trees ; but the superior fruits of the trees in 

 Spain are largely imported hither. Evelyn regretted that chestnuts Avere 

 not more eaten in this country ; as, in some parts of the Continent, the trees 

 are planted entirely for this produce, where they constitute a large proportion 



