COMMON HORSE-CHESNUT. 113 
lupine ;" and, from the manner in which it scatters its flowers on the grass, and 
the comparative uselessness of its fruit and timber, it is regarded by poets as a 
symbol of ostentation. 
In Paris, the magnificent trees in the garden at the Luxembourg have been 
celebrated by Castel. 
" L4 de marroniers les hautes avenues 
S'arrondissent eii voiite, et nous cachent les nues." 
Soil, Situation, fyc. The horse-chesnut requires a deep, free, loamy soil, and 
will neither attain an ample size, nor flower freely, except in a situation rather 
sheltered than exposed. It is always propagated by the nut, sown in autumn or 
spring, and covered with from two to three inches of soil. The cotyledons do 
not rise to the surface, as in the oak, the beech, and some other trees. "Some 
nurserymen," says Loudon, "cause the nuts to germinate before sowing them, 
in order to have an opportunity of pinching off the extremity of the radicle ; by 
which means the plants are prevented from forming a taproot ; or, at least, if a 
taproot is formed, it is of a much weaker description than it would otherwise be. 
and the number of lateral fibres is increased ; all of which is favourable for 
transplanting. When the tree is intended to attain the largest size, in the 
shortest time, the nut ought to be sown where the tree is finally to remain ; 
because the use of the taproot is mainly to descend deep into the soil, to secure 
a supply of water, which, in dry soils and seasons, can never be obtained in 
sufficient quantities by the lateral roots, which extend themselves near the sur- 
face in search of nourishment and -air." This is admitted, by Selby, to be the 
case for a certain number of years, but he doubts whether a transplanted tree 
will not ultimately attain as large a size as one reared in the manner recom- 
mended above. He cites an instance of a tree at Twizell, eighteen years planted, 
which measured, at two feet from the ground, four feet, two inches in circumfer- 
ence, with a height of thirty-eight feet. 
Insects. The foliage of the iEsculus hippocastanum is rarely eaten by the 
larvae of insects, except by those of several species of the Geometrise, some of 
which indiscriminately attack every tree within their reach, and persist in their 
devastations, unless the qualities of the leaves are disagreeable to them in the 
extreme. Among the trees, in which the leaves are unpleasant to them, are the 
Ailantus glandulosa, Catalpa syringsefolia, and Broussonetia papyrifera ( paper 
mulberry.) 
Properties and Uses. The wood of the horse-chesnut is white and very soft, 
and according to Loudon, when dry, weighs from thirty-five to thirty-seven 
pounds to a cubic foot. It is unfit for use where much strength and durability 
in the open air are required ; nevertheless, there are many purposes for which it 
is applicable, when sawn into boards ; such as for flooring, lining to carts, 
packing-cases, &c. In France, sabots, or wooden shoes are made from it ; and 
it is said to be used by carvers, turners, &c. Boutcher says, that it is suitable 
for water-pipes that are to be kept constantly under ground ; and it is also recom- 
mended for this purpose by Du Hamel. The charcoal made of this species may 
be used in the manufacture of gunpowder ; and the ashes of every part of the 
plant, more especially of the fruit, afford potash in considerable quantity. The 
bark, which is very bitter, is employed for tanning, and also for dyeing yellow ; 
and it has been used medicinally as a substitute for Jesuit's bark. In Turkey, 
the nuts are ground, and mixed with horse-food, especially when the animals are 
broken winded ; and in their crude state, they are eaten by goats, sheep, deer, 
and hogs. They are used in Ireland to whiten linen, and for this purpose are 
rasped into water, in which they are allowed to macerate for some time. The 
saponaceous juice, which they contain, is very useful, not only in bleaching, but in 
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