SPANISH CHESTNUT. 



41 



Henry II.'s time, he speaks of a very noble 

 forest, which grew on the north part of it. 

 " Proxime," says he, " patet foresta ingens, 

 saltus nemorosi ferarum, latebrse cervorum, 

 damarum, aprorum et taurorum silvestrium," 

 etc. ; and there are some remains of old, de- 

 cayed chestnuts in the old woods and chases 

 not far distant from London, which plainly 

 prove that this tree is not so great a stranger 

 to our climate as many people believe it to 

 be, and may be cultivated in England to af- 

 ford an equal profit with any of the larger 

 timber trees, since the wood of this tree is 

 equal in value to the best oak, and for many 

 purposes far exceeding it ; as particularly for 

 making vessels for all kinds of liquors, it 

 having the property, when once thoroughly 

 seasoned, of maintaining its bulk constantly, 

 and is not subject to shrink or swell, as other 

 timber is too apt to do. It is also very va- 

 luable for pipes to convey water underground, 

 as enduring longer than elm, or any other 

 wood. 



