82 



SYLVA BRIT7VNNICA. 



more to the cultivation of the chesnut; and as it is 

 highly ornamental whilst growing, is early capable 

 of being converted into excellent timber, and quarrels 

 which no soil assigned to it, it is on every account 

 deserving of encouragement. 



THE TORTWORTH CHESNUT 



is probably the oldest tree now standing in England. 

 It is brought forward in evidence by Dr. Ducarel, in 

 his contest with Daines Barrington, respecting the 

 Chesnut being a native of Britain, as a proof that 

 it is indigenous. In the reign of Stephen, who 

 ascended the throne in 1135, it was deemed so re- 

 markable for its size, that, as appears upon record, 

 it was well known as a signal boundary to the 

 manor of Tortworth, in Gloucestershire, where it 

 stands, and is mentioned as such by Evelyn, in his 

 Sylva, b. III. c. 3. At the time that it was thus 

 conspicuous for its magnitude and vigour, we may 

 reasonably suppose it to have been in its prime : if 

 therefore, we pay any regard to the received opinion 

 which is applied to the Chesnut, equally with the 

 Oak, that it is three hundred years in coming to 

 perfection, this calculation takes us back to the 

 beginning of the reign of Egbert, in the year 800, 

 for the commencement of the existence of the Tort- 

 worth Chesnut. Since that epoch above a thou- 



