12 THE CHESNUT. 



trunk fometimes form a kind of net-work 

 by interlacing. The branches are richly 

 clothed with long jagged leaves, of a plea- 

 fant green, and the head is mafly and 

 fpreading. In autumn the leaves fade to 

 a gold yellow, affording a very confpicuous 

 variety of tinge in the woods. Few trees 

 arrive at greater longevity. A chefnut at 

 Tort worth, in Gloucefterfhire, is proved to 

 have flood ever fince the year 1 150, and to 

 have been then remarkable for its age and 

 fize. The chefnut tree thrives in almoil 

 all foils and fituations, though it fucceeds 

 beft in rich loamy land. Nothing will 

 grow beneath its fhade. 



Among the maft-bearing trees this may 

 be reckoned the moil valuable, fince its 

 nuts, by their fweet and farinaceous qua- 

 lity, are rendered good food for man, as 

 well as for other animals. The chefnuts 

 cultivated for their fruit are ufually grafted 

 ones, called by the French marronier \ and 

 in many parts of the fouth of Europe they 

 afford great part of the fuftenance of the 

 poor ; who make bread of their flour. They 



are 



