HORSE-CHESTNUT TREE. 177 



chiefly admired for its flower, which in itself is beautiful ; 

 but the whole tree together in flower is a glaring object, 

 totally inharmonious and unpicturesque. In some situ- 

 ations, indeed, and among a profusion of other wood, a 

 single Horse-Chestnut or two in bloom may be beautiful. 

 As it forms an admirable shade, it may be of use, too, 

 in thickening distant scenery, or in screening an object 

 near at hand : for there is no species of foliage, however 

 heavy, nor any species of bloom, however glaring, which 

 may not be brought, by some proper contrast, to produce 

 a good effect*." 



Dr. Aikin says, " its introduction here has been solely 

 owing to its beauty ; in which, at the flowering season, it 

 certainly excels every other tree that bears our climate." 

 Evelyn, and his editor, Dr. Hunter, speak highly of its 

 singular beauty. 



" I wish we did more universally cultivate the Horse- 

 Chestnut," says Evelyn ; " which being easily increased 

 from layers, grows into a goodly standard, and bears a 

 most glorious flower, even in our cold country." 



" The Horse-Chestnut," observes Dr. Hunter, " is a 

 tree of singular beauty ; the leaves are large, fine, and 

 palmated, and appear very early in the spring. It is 

 naturally uniform in its growth, always forming its head 

 into a regular parabola. In the spring it produces long 

 spikes of rich and beautiful flowers." 



The timber is not very valuable : it is reckoned very 

 good for subterraneous water-pipes, for fuel, and for 

 turnery-ware, for which Dr. Hunter informs us that it 

 is valued in the north at sixpence a foot. 



Sheep, deer, and hogs feed greedily upon the nuts ; and 



* Gilpin's Forest Scenery, i. 61. 



