146 THE BEECH. 



and wholesome. The bark is used for making baskets and 

 panniers, but the timber is not durable." 



The above description, though wanting the precision of 

 modern science, is sufficiently conclusive that the Fagus of 

 Italy is the Beech of Great Britain, for the account is not 

 true of any other known tree. The only statement which 

 demands further notice is that of Virgil, that the Beech is 

 often grafted on the Castanea or Chestnut. This assertion 

 has appeared so strange and unaccountable to commentators, 

 that some have got rid of the difficulty at once by sup- 

 posing that the passage is corrupt, and that Virgil meant 

 to say, "the Chestnut is often grafted on the Beech:" 

 others have jumped to an equally unwarrantable conclusion, 

 that the Beech was called by the Eomans " Castanea," 

 and the Chestnut "Fagus;" and that, accordingly, Ca3sar 

 asserted that the Chestnut did not grow in Britain. This 

 ingenious explanation is so satisfactory, that it might be 

 adopted at once, if sufficient evidence of the fact could be 

 adduced. But this is not the case, for Pliny's description 

 of the Castanea agrees as exactly with the Chestnut as 

 that of the Fagus does with the Beech. " The fruit of the 

 Castanea," he says, " we call also a nut, though it ap- 

 proaches nearer in character to mast. It is protected by 

 a case beset with strong prickles. It is strange that we 

 hold as of no value a fruit which Nature has so carefully 

 guarded from injury. As many as three nuts frequently 

 grow together in one case. The proper rind of the nut is 

 tough, and within this is a thin skin closely attached to 

 the substance of the nut, as in the walnut, which, unless 

 it be removed, spoils the flavour of the fruit. The best 

 way of preparing them for food is by roasting. They are 

 sometimes ground into meal, which is converted by women 

 into a wretched substitute for bread, and eaten during 

 their religious fasts." 



From a comparison of these passages, it will plainly 

 appear that the tree which we call Beech was undoubtedly 

 the Fagus of the Romans, and the Chestnut, Castanea. 



