49 



XVIII. 



SAPINDACE^. 

 THE HORSE-CHESNUT. 



.^SCULUS. 



In floral beauty, luxuriance of foliage, and 

 dimensions, we have no tree equal to Ai. hippo- 

 castaniiin, the common horse-chesnut. From its 

 native home in the mountains of South-eastern 

 Europe, it was brought into this country about 

 the middle of the Sixteenth Century. Being 

 very hardy, it appears soon to have attracted 

 considerable attention, and to have been exten- 

 sively grown as an ornamental tree, for it is said 

 to have been comparatively common in avenues 

 and pleasure grounds within less than two hundred 

 years from the date of its introduction. 



The young tree presents rather a formal ap- 

 pearance, the branches not being numerous, and 

 taking a stiff and slightly vertical course. With 

 age and increased weight, however, and greater 

 length of lateral branches — the lower being the 

 longest, and these being borne down almost to a 

 right angle from the trunk, and bending outwards 

 in graceful curves — the general appearance of the 

 tree is greatly improved. 



About the end of March the flower buds swell, 

 and in April the green slender leaves begin to 



