38 



THE HORSE CHESTNUT. 



now, the tree having reached the meridian of its 

 glory, stands forth prominently in all the gorgeous- 

 ness of leaf and blossom. The downy covering, 

 which was observable on the leaves in their early 



FLOWER AND SEED OF HORSE CHESTNUT. 



stage, has now disappeared, and they have assumed 

 instead a rich, full green. Each leaf is composed 

 of seven broad leaflets, unequal in size, which 

 radiate from a common centre, a character of 

 foliage different from that of any other British 



