50 



THE LIME. 



mend the planting of this tree to a greater extent 

 than is justified by common sense. It is less hardy 

 than the oak, while it does not afford better timber ; 

 and it requires richer soil, at the same time that it 

 does not, in general, at least with us, attain a larger 

 size. What advantage, then, saving that of variety 

 alone, can be derived from its culture, which may 

 not in a higher degree be derived from the cultiva- 

 tion of the oak ? The ehesnut is common, to the 

 south of Europe with the temperate parts of Asia. 



What is called the horse-chesnut belongs to a 

 very different genus, jEscuIus. It is chiefly culti- 

 vated as an ornamental tree, its timber being of a 

 very worthless kind. The horse-chesnut has a fine 

 spreading top, and grows to a large size. In sum- 

 mer, and more especially when in blossom, no tree 

 is more beautiful. In winter it has rather a morti- 

 fied look. The horse-chesnut is hardy, and is said 

 to have been originally brought into Europe from 

 the north of Asia. 



the lime. 



The Lime-tree attains a gigantic size on favour- 

 able soil. It is scarcely less ornamental than, the 

 horse-chesnut, and though it has not so spreading a 



