Trees, Shrubs, and Plants of Virgil 



Latins had no single name. Pliny says, with some 

 reason, that it should rather be classed with the 

 glandes than with the nuces. The epithet of ' hirsutae ' 

 refers to the prickly covering and ' molles ' to the 

 roasted kernel, which was a common article of food. 

 Pliny thought little of it, and was surprised that 

 Nature had taken so much pains to protect so poor 

 a fruit. The best variety was known as Corellia, 

 and was supposed to have originated from a graft, 

 in which both stock and scion were of the same tree. 

 Chestnut bread was especially eaten by women at 

 fasting seasons. 



In autumn the large leaves completely cover the 

 ground under the trees, whence comes Milton's 

 comparison : 



' Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks 

 In Vallombrosa.' 



The chestnut was largely used for cutting in a 

 young state, the growth renewing itself rapidly, and 

 the stakes being much used as props for vines in 

 a ' vinea.' We still grow it in this way as material 

 for fences. 



The timber of full-grown trees was useful in build- 

 ing, but some Roman architects objected to its 

 excessive weight. 



Flower, June. 



Italian name, Castagno. 



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