APPENDIX. 221 



The laft inftance I fhall mention, though not oflong date, 

 %vill fhew the great fuperiority of this timber over oak in 

 fences. In the year 1772, the prefent Mr. Windham made a. 

 large plantation in his park, which was fenced with potts and 

 rails, converted from young oaks and chefnut s of the fame 

 age and fcantling, fuch as were picked out of a place where 

 they Hood too thick. Laft year, upon Mr. Windham's en- 

 larging his plantation, it was neceffary to remove this fence — 

 when the chefnut pods were found as found as when they 

 were fir ft put down, but the oak were fo much waited, juft 

 below the furface of the ground, that they could not be ufed 

 for the fame purpofes again, without the afliiluncc of a four 

 to fupport them. 



To thefe modern proofs of the utility and durability, we 

 may join the authority of Evelvn, an author of cftablifhcd re- 

 putation, who afferts, it is good for "mill-timber and water- 

 •* work, and that great part of our ancient houfes in the citv 

 ff of London were built with it, and that it docs well for table 

 f and other furniture." 



As a candid quoter of Evelyn, however, T admit that he 

 fays, in another place, that he " cannot celebrate this tree for 

 f* its fincerity, it being found (contrary to oak) it will make a 

 *' fair fhow outwardly, when it is all decayed and rotten 

 li within ; but that this is in fome fort recompenfed, for the 

 " beams have the property of being fomewhat brittle, of 

 f* crackling, and giving warning of danger," 



To account for this drawback in Mr. Evelyn's opinion, It 

 will be proper to obferve, that this certainly is the cafe with 

 old chefnut, that : fuffered t<> ft and beyond the time 



of its attaining its full growth; it is th <■> -ill 



timber, being more brittle ami mo 

 fplinters than any other : bul I have never known 



afc With young chefnut, and therefore in, ppinl <>' • 



