APPENDIX. 219 



ON THE 



Uses and Value of the Spanish Chesmit. 



Letter from Mr. KENT, to the PRESIDENT of the 

 SOCIETY of ARTS, MANUFACTURES, and COM- 

 MERCE, dated 16th Jan. 1792. 



INCEI have had the honour of becoming a member of 

 the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufa&ures, 

 and Commerce, I have read with great fatisfa&ion Mr. Ma- 

 jendie's judicious remarks upon the Spanifh chefnut, in the 

 ninth volume of their Tranfattions, page 17, and obfervation 

 and experience have long convinced me, that it is the moffc 

 profitable tree that can be planted. Although the character 

 which he gives of it, has in a great meafure anticipated what I 

 had to fay in its favour, (till I am perfuaded a few more parti- 

 culars relative to it, will not be confidered impertinent or ill- 

 timed, though it may in fome inftanccs carry the appearance 

 of repetition. 



I entirely agree with Mr. Majendie, that, for hop-poles 

 and flakes, it has no equal, in point of durability, and confe- 

 quently no underwood can be applied to thofc purpofes with 

 equal profit. He fecms to think, indeed, that it is not fo 

 quick in its growth as afh ; upon a moift foil, I think it is 

 not, but upon a fand or loam, I apprehend it will keep full 

 pace with the afh, and attain fufficient fize for hop-poles in 

 fourteen years, and be worth at that age two guineas a hun- 

 dred, and la ft, with proper care, twenty years; whilll afh, 

 which fcldom comes to fufficient fize in left than tv» 

 years, will only bear two-thirds of the price, and decay in 

 hftlf the time. 



Ec z 



