i^sculus 217 



Timber 



The wood of the horse-chestnut is one of the poorest and least valuable we 

 have, on account of its softness and want of strength and durability. Though it 

 has a fine close and even grain, white or yellowish-white colour, and is not liable 

 to twist or warp so much as most woods, it does not cut cleanly, decays rapidly, and 

 is only I'sed as a rule for such purposes as cheap packing-cases and linings. 



It burns so badly that it is of little use as firewood, and though occasionally cut 

 into veneers or used as a cheap substitute for sycamore, poplar, and lime, in making 

 dairy utensils, platters, and brush backs, it cannot be said to have a regular market. 

 From 4d. to 8d. a foot is about the usual value in most parts of England, though 

 Webster says that it was worth a shilling in Banffshire some years ago. 



Holtzapfifel says that it is one of the white woods of the Tunbridge turner, a 

 useful wood for brush backs and turnery, preferable to holly for large varnished and 

 painted works on account of its great size. 



I am not aware whether it has been tried for pulp-making, but it would seem to 

 be a suitable wood for that purpose on account of its softness, and could, if required, 

 be produced in quantity at a low price. (H. J. E.) 



iESCULUS CARNEA. Red Horse-Chestnut 



/Esculus carnea, Hayne, Dendrol. Flora, 43 (1822). 



^sculus rubicunda, Loiseleur, Herb. Amat. vi. t. 357 (1822); Loudon, Arb. et Frut. Brit. i. 467 



(1838); Carrifere, Rev. Horticole, 1878, p. 370, coloured figure of var. Briotii. 

 /Esculus Hippocastanum, L. x /Esculus Favia, L., Koch, Dendrologie, i. 507 (1869). 



A small tree, occasionally 50 feet, but rarely exceeding 30 feet in height. Leaves 

 resembling those of the common horse-chestnut, but darker green with an uneven 

 surface, the leaflets being shortly stalked and more or less curved and twisted. 

 Flowers red, showing as they open an orange-coloured blotch at the base of the 

 petals, which afterwards becomes deep red. Petals five, standing nearly erect, their 

 limbs not spreading horizontally at right angles to the claws, as occurs in the 

 common horse-chestnut ; edges of the petals furnished with minute glands, like those 

 present in Esculus Pavia. Fruits with slender prickles. 



Identification 



In winter, the species is distinguished as follows : Twigs rather stout, grey, 

 shortly pubescent; leaf-scars as in yEsculus Hippocastanum. Buds slightly viscid 

 and smaller than in that species ; scales brown, edged with a dry membranous 

 dark-coloured rim. Lateral buds small, oval, pointed, arising from the twig at an 



acute angle. 



II 



