2(54. 



CHESTNUT. 



HISTORY. 



The Chestnut is a handsome deciduous, tree belonging to the natural 

 order Amentacese (Corylacejse of some botanists). Botanically it is known 

 as Castanea vesca, the generic name being taken from a town in Thessaly, 

 where at one time the trees were very numerous. Formerly this tree was 

 generally known as Fagus castanea, a name still used by some writers 

 The Chestnut is supposed to be a native of Asia Minor, where it is to be 

 generally met with. It is said to have been first taken to Europe by the 

 Greeks at a very early period, and soon after its culture was taken up by 

 the Romans. According to history, the Chestnut was very popular among 

 the nations of antiquity, and the nuts were extensively used. Pliny 

 informs us that in his time eight varieties were cultivated, and that the 

 nuts, when ground into meal, furnished bread in large quantities for the 

 poorest class of the Roman population. The nuts were not only considered 

 to be very nutritious, this writer further informs us, but their use was also 

 recommended to persons who were in the habit of spitting blood. 



The chestnut is supposed to have been introduced to England at the 

 time of the Roman invasion, but this is somewhat uncertain. That it has 

 been long established in that country is, however, beyond doubt, as there 

 are many trees recorded as having attained a great size and age. Ireland 

 has also produced some notable specimens, and in Scotland some very 

 large trees have existed. Formerly in the United Kingdom the Chestnut 

 appears to have been more generally used and popular than it is now. 

 As a material for bread the fruit was at one time used in considerable 

 quantities. It was also generally used for thickening soups, as a stuffing 

 for turkeys, and when stewed in cream it was a favourite dish. In the 

 south of Europe, and more especially in Spain, the Chestnut is very 

 widely cultivated, and generally used. In France and Italy the fruit is 

 extensively used as food by the poorer classes. A very curious custom is 

 said to have been formerly followed in some parts of Spain on All Souls' 

 Day, when people would go from house to house to eat Chestnuts with 

 their neighbours. Their reason for this practise was that they believed 

 that every Chestnut eaten in this way would deliver a soul from purgatory. 



The origin of the common name Chestnut is not known for a certainty. 

 According to some authorities it originated through the nut being 

 enclosed in a covering or chest. Others, however, consider that the 

 name was given through the nut at one time having been regarded as a 

 specific for chest diseases. The latter supposition is probably the most 

 correct one, seeing that ancient nations attributed virtues to the nuts for 

 pulmonary complaints. By many writers it is spelt Chesnut instead of 

 Chestnut, and very good authorities favour this mode. The tree is often 

 called the Sweet Chestnut to distinguish it from the Horse Chestnut, 

 which belongs to quite a different family. It is also commonly known as 

 the Spanish Chestnut, because it is extensively cultivated in Spain. 



Under favourable conditions in Europe the Chestnut attains a great 

 age and size. It is recorded that in Gloucestershire, England, a tree, 

 supposed to be 1100 years old, measured fifty-two feet round the trunk. 



