46 LONDON TREES 



has arrived at full maturity, the Spanish Chestnut 

 is a noble tree, the beautifully serrated, dark-green 

 leaves and abundance of creamy-white flowers im- 

 parting a pleasing aspect to the tree that is quite its 

 own. It succeeds best in a deep sandy or gravelly 

 soil, and will not thrive when planted on clay or that 

 of a stiff, tenacious character like that which is found 

 in most parts of the London area. 



For timber purposes the Sweet Chestnut is a 

 valuable tree, but, unlike the Oak, does not increase 

 in value with age, and is about in its prime at from 70 

 to 100 years old. After that period the timber usually 

 becomes affected by ' shake,' and afterwards gradually 

 decreases in value for general constructive purposes. 

 The wood is light brown in colour, clean and close- 

 grained, the medullary rays being scarcely visible. 

 It is susceptible of a nice polish and easily worked. 

 At one period of the history of our country Chestnut 

 timber stood in high esteem, and was in many cases 

 preferred to that of the Oak, being largely employed in 

 the roofing and flooring of buildings, and that under 

 certain conditions Chestnut timber can survive that 

 of the Oak is well known. 



The Sweet Chestnut is propagated from seed, 

 either home grown or obtained from Continental 

 sources, and treated in a manner similar to that 

 recommended for the Oak. Home-grown seed is 

 rarely good, though in many parts of Kent and in 

 Greenwich Park quantities of healthy seedlings have 

 been raised from chestnuts collected from these 

 sources. At Holwood Park, twelve miles from London, 

 large quantities of excellent chestnuts are annually 

 collected. 



