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On the engrafting the Chesnut Tree, By James Mease, 



M, n. 



Read June 14, 1814. 



The fruit of the chesnut tree of North America is in 

 general, not above half the size of the Spanish ches- 

 nut. But it makes up for its comparatively diminutive 

 size, by superior sweetness. I have, however, seen 

 a variety of the chesnut brought to our market, which 

 was nearly of the size of the European species, and 

 as the propagation of such a variety is of importance, 

 I think it will be rendering a service to our farmers to 

 point out a sure and easy mode of effecting so desirable 

 an object. 



If a young farmer would inclose ten acres of land 

 the first year of his farming life, plant them in ches- 

 nuts, and engraft them when of a proper age from a 

 tree bearing large chesnuts, I venture to predict that at 

 the end of 20 years he will have secured to himself a 

 greater revenue, than if the same land had been kept 

 in the alternate husbandry of our country. 



When in flower, the chesnut tree is highly orna- 

 mental ; and no article raised by a farmer would com- 

 mand a better price in foreign parts, than its fruit. 

 The Spanish and French chesnuts are exported to all 

 the world, besides constituting the substantial part 

 of the diet of the peasantry, to whom they are as 

 essential as the potatoe to the generous sons of Ire- 

 land. Horses are also fed on chesnuts in those coun- 

 tries ; and the Portuguese hams, which are very much 

 admired, derive their excellent flavour and fatness 



