( 64 ) 



know not. I rather fufpect its truth*. Som 

 years ago Mr. Daines Barrington read a paper 

 to the royal fociety, in which he endeavoured 

 to prove, that the chefnut was not indigenous 

 to this country. Dr. Ducarel anfwered him, 

 and alledged from ancient records, and other 

 evidences, that chefnut formerly abounded in 

 many woody fcenes in England ; and was cer- 

 tainly a native of this ifland. Among the an- 

 cient records, to which he appeals, one is 

 dated in the time of Henry II. It is a deed of 

 gift from Roger, earl of Hereford, to Flexley 

 abbey, of the tythe of all his chefnuts in the 

 foreft of Dean -f-. 



The horfe-chefnut is a heavy, difagreeable 

 tree. It forms its foliage generally in a round 

 mafs, with little appearance of thofe breaks, 

 which, we have obferved, contribute to give 

 an airinefs and lightnefs, at leaft a richnefs, 



* In the tenth volume of the Tranfa&ions of the fociety for the 

 encouragement of arts, &c. fome inftances are given of its being 

 a very ufeful timber-tree. 



f See four letters on chefnut-trees, read before the royal 

 fociety 1771. 



and 



