71 



rature clniing the winter. At the time when the roots were first 



gathered, the fronds were very small and imperfect. 



W. Wilson. 

 Warrington, February 8, 1851. 



[I have long had this subject under consideration, and shall have 

 something to say about it next month. — E. N.'\ 



Remarkahly Fine Specimen of the Edible Chestnut (Castanea vesca). 

 By H. L. DE LA Chaumette, Esq. 



The finest specimen of this beautiful tree I have as yet seen stands 

 at about half an hour's walk up the neighbouring mountain from the 

 town of Evian, in Savoy. The steamer was making a " promenade" 

 on the second of August, 1846, to Evian, leaving passengers there in 

 the morning, at about 10 o'clock, and coming to fetch them home at 

 about 5 P.M. I made this "promenade" on this day to the above-men- 

 tioned town, which is very dirty and dull, as are most of the towns in 

 Savoy, and went with a guide on purpose to see the famous chestnut- 

 tree. I went through a narrow path with a broken wall on either 

 side, covered with the fronds of Polypodium vulgare, which, being 

 then quite matured, had a very pretty appearance. Presently we got 

 into a forest of nothing but noble chestnut-trees; the foliage was so 

 thick that the beams of the sun could scarcely penetrate it, and the 

 ground we were walking on was so slippery with Lycopodium, Sphag- 

 num and Musci, that it was troublesome walking. At last we came 

 into a field bordered with these splendid trees, and at one corner 

 stood the specimen I have much pleasure in giving a short account of. 

 I measured the circumference of its trunk, and found it to be fifty- 

 four feet. The trunk was perfectly hollow, and yet sound to all out- 

 ward appearance. I got inside, and am sure it would shelter eight 

 persons comfortably. The height of the tree is very great, I am told 

 upwards of eighty-five feet, and it is spreading and well-shaped in 

 proportion to its gigantic size. If any botanists visit Evian I hope 

 they will pay this tree a visit, and judge for themselves of its beauty 

 and that of the scenery around. 



H. L. DE LA Chaumette. 



Stoke Newington, February 10, 1851. 



