THE CHESNUT. 



81 



tree, which goes by the name of Castagno de Cento 

 Cavalli, is described by Brydone, who went to see 

 it through five or six miles of ahiiost impassable 

 forests, growing out of the lava, as having the ap- 

 pearance of five large trees growing together ; but 

 upon a more accurate examination, strengthened by 

 the assurances of scientific persons, he became in- 

 clined to believe that they had been formerly united 

 in one solid stem, and on measuring the hollow space 

 within, he found it two hundred and four feet round : 

 Carrera's assertion, that there was wood enough in 

 that one tree to build a large palace, can therefore 

 scarcely be regarded as an exaggeration. 



The chesnut flourishes abundantly amidst the 

 mountains of Calabria ; hence it is that we find it 

 always forming a prominent feature in the bold and 

 rugged landscapes of Salvator Rosa, who drew several 

 of his most striking scenes from the wild haunts and 

 natural fastnesses of that romantic country, wherein 

 he passed so many of his youthful days. The ches- 

 nut appears to have been more plentiful in former 

 times in this country than it is at present. Many 

 of the most ancient houses in London were built of 

 its wood, as is the roof of Westminster Hall, built 

 by William Rufus in the year 1099, still free from 

 any appearance of decay, and one of the finest pro- 

 ductions, in its kind, of human art, in point of size, 

 beauty, strength, and durability. Of late years, 

 however, the attention of planters has been turned 



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