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 96 



than true, that the difficulty increases, if the 

 object be economy. 



The importation of chesnuts is very con- 

 siderable both from Spain and Portugal, yet 

 I believe it is rare if ever there is a single 

 meal made from them in this country. The 

 Catalonians have this strange religious prac- 

 trice. On the 1st of November, the eve of All 

 Souls, they run about from house to house 

 to eat chesnuts, believing that for every 

 chesnut they swallow, with proper faith and 

 unction, they shall deliver a soul out of pur- 

 gatory. 



As ornamental and profitable for parks, 

 chesnut-trees are exceeded by no others, 

 which all must acknowledge who have seen 

 the fine avenues in Greenwich Park. There 

 is no better food for deer than chesnuts, and 

 they fall from the trees when other sustenance 

 is scarce. 



The timber is of equal value with the best 

 oak, and, for many purposes, far exceeding 

 it. No wood is more preferable for making 

 casks to hold wine and other liquors, as it 

 imparts no taste to the contents, and has the 

 property of maintaining its bulk constantly, 

 without shrinking or swelling, as most other 

 timber is apt to do, which often causes casks 

 to burst. It has also the quality of lasting 



