THE HORSE CHESTNUT. 



45 



several of the sort, dispersed, singly and in groups, 

 over the plains and grassy knolls. One, we shall 

 attempt to describe, though well aware how feeble 

 is the most florid description to depict an idea of 

 so remarkable an object. In height, it exceeded 

 50 feet, the diameter of its shade was nearly 90 

 feet, and the circumference of the bole 15 feet: 

 it was in full leaf and flower, and in appearance at 

 once united the features of strength, majesty, and 

 beauty ; having the stateliness of the Oak, in its 

 trunk and arms ; the density of the Sycamore, in 

 its dark, deep, massy foliage ; and the graceful 

 featheriness of the Ash, in its waving branches, 

 that dangled in rich tresses almost to the ground. 

 Its general character as a tree was rich and varied ; 

 nor were its parts less attractive by their extreme 

 beauty when separately considered. Each leaf 

 was about eighteen inches in length ; but nature, 

 always attentive to elegance, to obviate heaviness 

 had, at the end of a very strong leaf-stalk, divided 

 it into five, and sometimes seven leafits, of un- 

 equal length, and very long oval-shape, finely ser- 

 rated. These leafits were disposed in a circular 

 form, radiating from the centre, like the leaves of 

 the Fan-Palm, though placed in a contrary plane to 

 those of that magnificent ornament of the tropical 

 forests. The central, or lower leafits, were the 

 largest, each of them being ten inches in length, 

 and four inches in breadth, and the whole ex- 

 terior of the foliage being disposed in an imbri- 

 cated form, having a beautifully light and pal- 

 mated appearance. The flowers, in which the tree 

 was profuse, demanded our deep admiration and 

 attention; each group of them rose perpendicu- 

 larly from the end of the young shoot, and was in 



