^44 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



improvement of the chestnut, and many varieties have been produced, differ- 

 ing only in the size and quality of the fruit. 



Several species of chestnuts have been found in eastern Asia recently, which 

 were formerly classed under the oaks, and there has been a species discovered 

 in Nepaul, northern India, recently. 



Geography. — The geographical range of the chestnut is very broad. It 

 grows well and is indigenous all along the eastern coast of North America, 

 from 40° to 43° north latitude, extending west to eastern Kentucky and Ten- 

 nessee. The C. pumila is found between 30° and 40° north latitude, — from 

 southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. The C. vesca grows well through- 

 out the middle and southern counties of England, in all the countries of middle 

 and southern Europe and northern Africa, and in the countries of the Levant 

 and southern and eastern Asia, wherever it has been planted. 



Etymology. — Castanea was named for Castane, a city of Thessaly, famous 

 for chestnuts. Vesca is from the Latin vescor, eat, referring to the edible 

 character of the fruit. The common name, chestnut, is due to the fruit or nut 

 being inclosed in a box or chest. 



History. — The home of the chestnut is not exactly defined. De CandoUe 

 says it forms natural forests from the Caspian Sea westward to Portugal. It 

 has also been stated that its home is the country between the Black and 

 Mediterranean seas, and that it was carried west after the Roman conquests. 

 Pickering says it is native to China, and Thunberg saw it near Jeddo, in 

 Japan. It is believed that the Emperor Tiberius took it to Italy from Asia 

 Minor, and that it thence spread all over southern Europe. It is also indige- 

 nous in North America. 



There are some very remarkable chestnut-trees in the world, some of which 

 have reached a greater diameter of trunk than any other tree. The most 

 noted is the celebrated Mount ^tna chestnut, under which a hundred 

 mounted horsemen took shelter. The enormous size of this tree has led to 

 the belief that it is the union of a group of trees that stood near each other in 

 their youth. M. Jules Houel, a French scientist, nearly a hundred years 

 since, made a journey to measure and make a drawing of it. He found it to 

 be 1 60 feet in circumference, and on the closest and most careful examination 

 could find no evidence that it is not a single trunk. There are other large 

 trees in the neighborhood, measuring from 36 to 40 feet in diameter. 



There are three large chestnut-trees in the southern suburb of the city of 

 Yonkers (just outside the northern limits of New York City.) Two of these 

 measure respectively 24 feet 10 inches, and 19 feet 6 inches in circumference. 

 These are of the American variety, and are in an advanced state of decay. 

 By a calculation from the best known data, the largest of these trees is about 

 210 years old. 



Use. — The chestnut is a favorite nut in many parts of Europe ; and in the 

 countries of the Levant it constitutes a very important article of food. It is 

 roasted or boiled, and eaten with salt. It is also eaten raw. A flour is made 

 of the nuts in a dried state, which is used for various culinary purposes, prin- 

 cipally for griddle cakes. 



The wood is not hard, but is very durable, and takes a high polish. It is 

 used for cabinet work, bedsteads, tables, etc., and by reason of its durable 

 character is very highly valued for fencing material. It is also a strong and 

 valuable timber for building purposes. 



The nut forms an important article of commerce. The best European nuts 

 come from Spain. 



