FOREST TREES. V1 
abound in the mountainous districts from Virginia to 
Georgia, and in East Tennessee. I have seen it near 
the Yazoo river in alluvial lands. It seems to prefer 
the sides and neighborhood of hills and mountains, 
with a dry, sandy or gravelly soil. It will thrive on 
the dry prairies’of Illinois, but does not appear to 
grow more rapidly in the richer soils than in poorer 
lands. It will grow in almost any soil except a wet 
one. As itis mostly found native on soils that are 
not very rich and are naturally well drained, it may 
well be doubted if it will succeed on the rich flat 
lands of Illinois and Iowa, where the subsoil is often, 
for great part of the year, saturated with stagnant 
water. In these States soils underlaid with sand or 
gravel—the banks of ravines—river bluffs, and 
uneven lands generally, will probably be found the 
most suitable places for planting it. 
Wherever the soil is suitable, and the winters not 
too severe, few forest trees merit the attention of the 
grower more than the Chestnut. It is scarcely pro- 
bable that it will endure the climate of Minnesota; 
perhaps not that of Northern Iowa; but where it will. 
succeed it will amply repay cultivation. Its wood is 
largely employed in the manufacture of furniture, 
and for the inside finish of railroad cars and steam- 
boats, Itis strong, elastic and durable; and, although 
coarse-grained, is, when oiled and varnished, very 
handsome. Its durability renders it particularly val- 
uable for posts, which are made of small trees. Chest- 
nut rails are said to last more than fifty years. As 
fuel it is not esteemed. The nuts usually bring from 
