TIMBER TREES. 35 



the siege of Hamburg by the Russians in 1814 almost 

 all the birch trees in the neighbourhood were de- 

 stroyed by the Boshkirs and other barbarian soldiers 

 in the Russian service, by being tapped for their 

 sap. 



A considerable list might be compiled of the varied 

 uses of different parts of the tree, which Coleridge 

 calls the " Lady of the Woods" ; and many quotations 

 from the modern poets, in its praise and honour, 

 not omitting Shenstone's school children watching a 

 birchen tree, 



" For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew 

 But their limbs shudder'd, and their pulse beat low ; 

 And, as they look'd, they found their horror grew 

 And shaped it into rods, and tingled at the view." 



The CHESTNUT l is an Asiatic tree, which has for 

 many centuries been cultivated in Europe. The 

 leaves are lance-shaped, six or eight inches in length 

 and two inches in width, with veins proceeding direct 

 to the margin, and forming a tooth, so that the edges 

 of the leaves are serrated with distant teeth. The 

 fruit seldom .attains any degree of perfection in this 

 country, although in some seasons better than 

 others. 



In many woods the chestnut is only an under 

 shrub, but in France we have traversed large woods 

 composed entirely of this tree. In parks and open 

 places it attains to a greater size than the oak, and 

 will reach to a considerable age. 



The chestnut tree is said to have been brought into 



1 Castanea vesca. 

 D 2 



