THE HORSECHESTNUT 



the popular name which has remained unchanged to 

 this day. The generic name Aesculus, from esca, 

 nourishment, was adopted by Linnaeus, but was first 

 given by PHny to a kind of Oak having an edible 

 fruit. The specific name Hippocastanum was also 

 adopted by Linnaeus in 1753, and is the vernacular 

 name latinized. The tree raised in Vienna by Clus- 

 ius grew rapidly and is mentioned by him, with a good 

 figure of the leaves and fruit and the history of its 

 introduction to Vienna, on page 7 of his wprk entitled 

 "Rariorum Plantarum Historia," published in 1601. 



To France seeds were brought from Constantinople 

 by Bachelier in 161 5. It was probably introduced 

 to England about the same time, for in Johnson's 

 edition of Gerard's "Herbal," published in 1633, it is 

 stated that the Horsechestnut was growing in John 

 Tradescant's garden at South Lambeth. In the 

 original edition, published in 1597, Gerard mentions 

 it as a tree growing in Italy and sundry places of the 

 eastern countries. 



In the early struggling days of this country its 

 English settlers found time to introduce many plants 

 of aesthetic value as well as those of purely economic 

 worth. But unfortunately dates are so often lacking 

 that the exact history is seldom available. Were these 

 more ascertainable the romance of familiar garden 

 flowers and crops would be apparent. History in 



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