THE CHESTNUT. 



15 



The Chestnut is usually propagated by sow- 

 ing the nuts; but the choice varieties are con- 

 tinued by grafting. English nuts germinate 

 freely, but if foreign ones be sown, care should 

 be taken to ascertain that they have not been 

 kiln- dried, as in that case the germinating prin- 

 ciple is destroyed. 



The Chestnut blossoms in July, and soon the 

 upper part of the spike bearing the barren flowers 

 withers, and drops off*, leaving the lower part of the 

 spike still supporting the fertile flowers, with the 

 embryo of the future nuts attached. Towards 



FRUIT OP CHESTNUT. 



the end of September the latter begin to ripen, 

 and in October fall to the ground, where they 

 open with valves and expose the ripe nuts. Each 

 case contains from two to five nuts, two or more 



