1986 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART 111. 
its fruit any where except in a climate that will ripen the grape also in the 
open air, There are several species found in Java, Japan, Cochin-China, China, 
and the Himalayas; and one of these is supposed to be identical with C. vésca. 
(Mirbel.) In Britain, the sweet chestnut is by some considered to be indi- 
genous ; but, notwithstanding the great age of some specimens, it appears to 
us more than probable that they have all been planted. This doubt is noticed 
by Ray and Evelyn, and was warmly taken up by Daines Barrington, about 
the middle of the last century; and the discussions which took place between 
that gentleman, M. Ducarel, and some others, will be found in the Philosophical 
Transactions, vols. lix. and lxi.; and in the Gentleman’s Magazine, for 1766. 
(See p. 23.) In the English Flora, the chestnut is stated to be “found in 
woods ; and it appears to be wild in the south and west of England.” It has 
been planted in Scotland, and sometimes ripens a few fruit in the warmest 
districts of East Lothian. It grows vigorously in Ireland, but never ripens fruit 
there. In Scandinavia it is unknown. It is apparently wild in some parts of 
France, and still more so in Spain and Italy ; though it is most probable that 
it was originally planted in these countries by the Romans. It abounds in 
the neighbourhood of Nice, and in the kingdom of Naples. It is particularly 
