THE CHESTNUT. 



25 



was known as a boundary mark to the manor 

 of Tortworth, in Gloucestershire, as early as the 

 reign of King John, and was even called the 

 great Chestnut of Tortworth in the reign of Ste- 

 phen. It had then probably been planted not 

 less than three hundred years, being consequently, 

 now at least a thousand years old. It was for- 

 merly much confined by the walls of the garden 

 within which it stood, but this incumbrance was 

 removed by Lord Ducie, who at the same time 

 applied fresh earth to its roots, which renewed its 

 vigour. Strutt gives a beautiful etching of it in 

 his Sylva Britannica," of which the accompany- 

 ing wood-cut is a copy. As he studied the tree with 

 a painter's eye, the reader will probably be glad 

 to have his description of it, which is as follows : 

 Since the commencement of its existence, a 

 thousand years have rolled over its yet green 

 head. How is it possible, bearing this reflection 

 in mind, to look upon its gigantic trunk, and 

 widely-spreading arms, without feelings of rever- 

 ence ! How many, not merely generations of 

 men, but whole nations, have been swept from 

 the face of the earth, whilst, winter after winter, 

 it has defied the howling blasts with its bare 

 branches ; and, spring after spring, put forth its 

 leaves again, a grateful shelter from the summer 

 sun ! Its tranquil existence, unlike that of the 

 human race, stained by no guilt, chequered by 

 no vicissitudes, is thus perpetually renewing itself ; 

 and, if we judge from the luxuriance of its foliage 

 and the vigour of the branches which encircle the 

 parent stem in wild profusion, may be prolonged 

 for as many more centuries as it has already stood. 

 Nor is it solitary in its old age. Its progeny 



