172 THE CHESTNUT. 



although for two or three months afterwards it 

 makes no show, the delay is more than compensated 

 by September, when the rich vermilion clusters at- 

 tract the most incurious. 



" The mountain-ash 



No eye can overlook, when 'mid a grove 

 ' Of yet unfaded trees she lifts her head, 

 Decked with autumnal berries, that outshine 

 Spring's richest blossoms." 



These berries, popularly deemed poisonous, are 

 perfectly free from hurtful properties. In the west 

 and north of Scotland they are commonly converted 

 into jelly for the breakfast-table ; in Siberia likewise 

 they are put to some such use. When carefully pre- 

 pared, this jelly has a beautiful violet tinge. 



THE CHESTNUT. 



CONCERNING the chestnut, it is merely necessary to 

 speak of the differences which keep it distinct from 

 the^sculus, or horse-chestnut, neither of these noble 

 productions of nature being met with in Britain 

 except as ornaments of the park or pleasure-ground. 

 For although the chestnut was introduced as far 

 back as the time of the Eomans, and has now be- 

 come thoroughly at home (except as to the ripening 

 of its fruit) ; it has not, like the elm and sycamore, 

 taken its place in the wood and wilderness. Wher- 

 ever met with, it is always obviously from the hand 

 of the planter. As for the horse-chestnut, it appears 



