HOW TO KNOW THE TREES 

 GROWING IN BRITAIN 



With Notes, descriptive and photographic, for their Identification 

 in all Seasons of the Year 



By HENRY IRVING 



THE SWEET CHESTNUT 



W 



E are compelled to conform to com- pression of sturdy strength. There is 

 mon usage in speaking of this something gladiatorial in its pose and 

 tree as the Sweet Chestnut, as bearing. Firm-set, erect, massive, mus- 



though it and the 

 Horse Chestnut 

 were in some way 

 allied; whereas 

 they are not even 

 distantly related. 

 Except for the 

 single fact that 

 their fruits 

 (though one is a 

 fruit and the other 

 a seed) are some- 

 what similar in 

 outward appear- 

 ance, they differ 

 in every possible 

 particular. This is 

 the chestnut, 

 wh a te ver the 

 Horse Chestnut 

 may be. Native 

 to the Sunny 

 South lands, it is 

 said to have been 

 brought here by 

 the K(jmans ; so 

 it has had time to 

 make itself fairly 

 at home. Yet it 

 is chiefly to be 



TRUNK OF SWEET CHESTNUT. 



cular, it were no 

 very far flight to 

 imagine a readi- 

 ness to give, or 

 take, blow, or 

 throw. 



In winter the 

 sturdy column of 

 the central stem 

 is seen to taper 

 little to a con- 

 siderable height. 

 It bears compara- 

 tively short but 

 heavy branches 

 which follow a like 

 habit. These are 

 carried horizon- 

 tally as on the 

 Oak. They dip 

 more at the ex- 

 tremities, and are 

 retained generally 

 at a lower level, 

 often sweeping 

 the ground. The 

 smaller branchings 

 from these hax'e 

 a drooping ten- 

 dency, which may 



found in planted parks and not in be compared to falling drapery from an 

 our wild woods. It is, however, much extended arm. 



used as undergrowth to form cover for 

 game. 



In force of character the Chestnut is 

 a close rival of the Oak. Growing more 



In spring the first colour of the young 

 leaves, spreading o\'er the surface of the 

 tree, is ruddy. This soon gives j^lace to 

 a clear, deep green. Not till late spring, 



erect, it, nevertheless, gives a similar im- or even early summer, do the catkins 



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