200 SYLVAN WINTER. 



wood gives signs of decay and loses mucli of its 

 value as timber. For a long time a belief was 

 held in England that Chestnut wood was of 

 remarkable quality, because a good deal of it in a 

 fine state of preservation was, it was believed, 

 found in ancient buildings, and especially in one 

 important building, Westminster Hall. On inves- 

 tigation, however, it was proved that this timber 

 was not that of the Chestnut, but the wood of the 

 Durmast Oak {Quereus sessiliflora). One curious 

 property, at any rate, this tree possesses, namely, 

 that of flavouring wine, for it is said that when 

 this liquor is placed in Chestnut casks, it not only 

 improves its colour, but its quahty, and is also an 

 aid to its preservation. 



Though the Cork Tree {Quereus suber) is in 

 reality an Oak, as its botanical name indicates, we 

 put it here in our alphabetical arrangement of 

 trees, because this seems more naturally its place. 

 The curious thickness of the outer bark, which 

 forms the familiar cork, lessens the diameter of 

 the timber ; but the latter is, nevertheless, used 

 for many of the purposes to which Oak is put, as 

 it is very hard and heavy, and takes a high polish. 



