CHAPTER XXX. 
THE BUCKEYE. 
Similarity of Species and General Characteristics to Horse-chestnuts. 
—Horse-chestnut Buckeye. —Its Elevation and Nativity. — Its 
Manner of Growth and Soil Suited to its Growth. —Its Foliage 
and Fruit Described. —Its Ornamental Value. — Specified Vari- 
eties.—When Introduced into the United States.—Repulsiveness 
of its Leaves to Insect Ravages.—Description of its Wood.—Use 
to which Put in Europe.—Use as Recommended by Du Hamel. 
—Produce of its Bark.—Bleaching Properties of its Nut.—Its 
Artistic Beauty. —Ohio Buckeye.— Height. — For what Recom- 
mended.—Its Uselessness as a Timber Tree.—The Sweet Buck- 
eye.—Its Attainable Height.— Origin of its Name.— Uses of its 
Wood.—How Propagated.—Popularity of its Nut-husks.—The Red 
Buckeye.—Its Stunted Growth.—Its Floral and Odorous Proper- 
ties. —Where Found.—Effect of its Bark on Fish.—Another Use of 
its Bark.—Its Largest Specimen.—Its Supposed Nativity.—Its In- 
troduction into Britain, and Ornamental Use.—Results of Grafting. 
—An Opinion.—The Edible Buckeye Described. 
Sometimes the two families of buckeyes and horse- 
chestnuts are mixed by persons that do not know the 
difference between the families, and are called separate 
trees; but their general characteristics are so much alike 
that, for one, I cannot see why a difference should exist 
at all, and I class them all under one head—First, the 
HORSE-CHESTNUT BUCKEYE. 
This tree, which rises to the height of eighty feet, was 
first known to Europe at Constantinople about the be- 
ginning of the sixteenth century, and is only cultivated 
here as an, ornamental tree. It is of very rapid growth 
in soils that suit it. The fruit or nuts, ground and mixed 
