HORSE-CHESTNUT. 265 



lopped in the days of William the Norman, because they 

 had not then settled on the shores of Britain ; but Gerard 

 told concerning us in his time; Tradescant, also, when Queen 

 Elizabeth installed him as her gardener. Evelyn spoke of 

 our ancestors with unqualified admiration, when he thus 

 wrote in his ' History of Forest-trees ' : " I wish we did 

 more readily propagate the horse-chestnut, which, being 

 easily increased from layers, grows into a goodly standard, 

 and bears most glorious flowers, even in our cold country. 

 This tree is now all the mode for avenues in the country 

 palaces of Prance, as appears by the late superintendent's 

 planting at Vaux." 



Surely there ought to be no appeal from such authority 

 as Evelyn's ; and yet we have been described as heavy- 

 looking and ungraceful, formal too, and hardly to be 

 tolerated, unless when required to form a background for 

 trees of more pleasing character. 



Observe my place of growth a wild secluded knoll, 

 rising somewhat precipitously on the verge of a deep 



