HORSE-CHESTNUT. 239 



form and general appearance of the round mass 

 of the tree, and approving it only when serving 

 as a contrast, yet speaks of the specimens which 

 stand alone at Bushey Park as c superb.' Heartily 

 as we agree with Gilpin in his keen appreciation 

 not only of the loveliness of forest scenery in 

 general, but in his particular admiration of the 

 beautiful forms of individual trees, we cannot en- 

 dorse his opinion of the Horse-Chestnut, either in 

 respect of its trunk, its ramification, or its foliage. 

 But it is our province here to speak only of its 

 foliage. 



In spring when its leaf is golden green, in 

 summer when it has acquired a darker and a deeper 

 tinge, and in Autumn when the departing green is 

 set off by orange and yellow and golden brown 

 it is beautiful : and the leaf of no tree is more 

 beautifully symmetrical. From the apex of a leaf- 

 stalk of varying length grow from five to seven 

 large, pear-shaped leaflets attached at the same 

 point and arranged in a circle or whorl around it. 

 The base of each leaflet is narrowed towards the 

 point of attachment to the common foot stalk 

 and each leaflet has a straight prominent and 



