CHESNUT. 91 



by Mr. Howel, this chesnut-tree is 160 feet in circum- 

 ference. Mr. Brydone, who measured it in 1770, says, 

 " it was then 204 feet round ;" and, although quite hol- 

 low within, the verdure of the branches is not affected ; 

 for this species of tree, like the willow and some others, 

 depends upon its bark for subsistence. The cavity of this 

 enormous tree is so extensive, that a house has been 

 built in it, and the inhabitants have an oven therein, 

 where they dry nuts, chesnuts, almonds, &c. of which 

 they make conserves : but, as these thoughtless people 

 often get fuel from the tree that shelters them, it is feared 

 that this natural curiosity will be destroyed by those 

 whom it protects. 



These trees seem to delight in the cinerated substances 

 thrown out of volcanos, as is shewn by the thick woods 

 of chesnut-trees, which cover the surface in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Vesuvius. They grow luxuriantly on Mount 

 Somma, on the heights of the Camaldoli near Naples, on 

 the Pyrenees near medicinal springs, and in general, in the 

 neighbourhood of subterraneous fires, not to mention the 

 numerous and gigantic trees that have for ages darkened 

 the sides of Etna. 



We strongly recommend the grafting of chesnut-trees 

 where planted for the sake of the fruit, and to those who 

 plant for timber it may be only necessary to notice that the 

 months of November and February are the best seasons 

 for sowing the nuts, which should be done on fresh un- 

 dunged earth : and the fruit of English trees answers 

 equally well for the latter purpose, provided care is taken 

 to reject all the nuts that swim upon the surface of the 

 water. Evelyn says, " they need only to be put into 

 holes with the point upmost as you plant tulips. October 

 is the season recommended for transplanting the young 

 trees ; and the younger they are planted, the better they 

 succeed. 



