ANCIENT TREES. 63 



While in exposed situations, and on retentive sub- 

 soils, it ramifies near the surface of the ground, and 

 seldom ripens its shoots sufficiently to resist frost. 

 On favourable soils in a close plantation, it rises with 

 a straight clean trunk to a height of from fifty to 

 sixty feet, and forms one of the most ornamental 

 of our large-growing trees. 



An account has been given of what was supposed 

 to be the largest and oldest chestnut tree in the 

 world, which used to stand, if it stands there no 

 longer, on Mount Etna. Kircher, about the year 

 1670, states that a whole flock of sheep might be 

 enclosed in it, as in a fold. While Brydone, who 

 records his tour through Sicily in 1770, just a hundred 

 years later, says that the decayed trunk of this tree 

 measured 204 feet in circumference. M. Houet, in 

 his " Voyage en Sicile," also relates that he visited it, 

 and found it in a state of decay, having lost the 

 greater part of its branches, and its trunk being quite 

 hollow. A house was erected in the interior, in which 

 some country people were living, and they had set up 

 an oven, in which, according to the custom of the 

 country, they dried chestnuts, filberts, and other fruits 

 which they wanted to preserve for winter use ; and 

 worse than all, using for fuel, when they could find no 

 other, pieces of wood cut with a hatchet from the 

 interior of the tree. Nothing is more curious than 

 the different accounts given at various periods of time 

 as to the condition and fortunes of these hoary old 

 woodland patriarchs in different parts of the world 

 wayside inns, and houses of refreshment for the 

 traveller having been extemporised from out of them 

 in several instances. 



