176 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



The Chestnut Tree. Castanea. 



Nat. Ord. Uorylaoeaei, Lin. Syst. MonoBcia, Folyandria. 



The chestnut, for its qualities in Landscape Gardening 

 ranks with that king of the forest, the oak. Like that tree, 

 it attains an enormous size, and its longevity in some cases 

 is almost equally remarkable. Its fine massy foliage, and 

 sweet nuts, have rendered it a favorite tree since a very 

 remote period. Among the ancients, the latter were a 

 common article of food. 



" Sunt nobis mitia poma, 



CastanecB moUes, et presgi oopia laotis." 



Vies. Ecl. 1. 



They appear to have been in general use, both in a raw 

 and cooked state. In times of scarcity, they probably 

 supplied in some measure the place of bread-stuffs, and 

 were thence highly valued : 



" As for the thrice three angled beech nut shell. 

 Or Chestuuf s armed huske and hid kemell, 

 No squire durst touch, the law would not afford. 

 Kept for the court, and for the king's own board." 



Ep. Hall, Sat. B. III. 1. 



Even to this day, in those parts of France and Italy 

 nearest the great chestnut forests of the Appenines, these 

 nuts form a large portion of the food which sustains the 

 peasantry, where grain is but little cultivated, and potatoes 

 almost unknown. There a sweet and highly nutritious 

 flour is prepared from them, which makes a delicious 

 bread. Large quantities of the fruit are therefor 

 annually collected in those countries, and dried and stored 



