THE CHESNUT. 13 



are alfo eaten as a delicacy at the bell 

 tables, either roafted or flevved. In this 

 country the fruit of the chefnut is fmall, 

 and feldom comes to maturity ; it is there- 

 fore left to the hogs and fquirrels. 



The wood of the chefnut is ftrong and 

 durable, and is ufed for moft of the pur- 

 pofes in which oak is employed,. Some of 

 the oldeft buildings in London are faid 

 to be timbered with chefnut. The trunks, 

 however, are often found decayed at the 

 heart when they appear found externally ; 

 and the wood on working is apt to turn out 

 brittle, and to fcparate in roundifh mafTes, 

 which fault is termed being cnp-fljukey . It 

 is preferable to any for making tubs and 

 veflels to hold liquor, as not being liable to I 

 fhrink after being once feafoned. The 

 principal ufe of chefnnt wood among us 

 is for hop-poles, of which it makes the \ 

 ilraig{iteft, tallelt, and mod durable. Being / 

 cut at an early age for this purpofe, it is 

 rare to fee large chefnut trees in our woods; 

 but they are frequent ornaments of our 

 parks and pleafure-grounds. 



THE 



