THE planter's GUIDE. 



339 



There is enumerated one other kind — namely, the 

 dwarf American Chestnut, {Fagus pumila,) or Chestnut 

 with spear-shaped leaves. It rises to the height of ten 

 or twelve feet, and although said to be hardy, is a plant of 

 little value. To this Dr Yule has of late meritoriously 

 added another kind, Castanea microcarpa, which is 

 deserving of being naturalised in our climate. Michaux 

 found it on the mountains of North Carolina, of fifteen 

 and sixteen feet in cu'cumference, and of a proportionable 

 height.*"' 



The Chestnut is originally from Asia Minor, and not 

 indigenous to any European country. Tiberius is said to 

 have first brought it from Sardis in Lydia, to Italy ; and 

 being soon after propagated in France, it was carried to 

 Britain. It is a native of several other parts of Asia, 

 such as Cochin-China, Japan, &c. It now abounds in the 

 mountainous parts of Italy, in Sicily, Switzerland, and 

 Germany.! 



This noble tree having been so long naturalised in the 

 temperate latitudes, grows to a great size in both divisions 

 of this island ; but it requires a soil which is both deep 

 and dry, and rather a favourable climate.;]; There is no 

 tree that displays a finer form, or throws out its branches 

 on every side more beautifully. It grows not unlike the 

 Oak, as Gilpin justly observes ; but its ramification is 

 more straggling, and it hangs more loosely and negligent- 

 ly. The leaves are large, of a lucid green, and continue 

 on the tree until late in the autumn, when they assume a 

 splendid gold colour. They are by no means so liable to 

 be attacked by insects as those of the Sycamore and the 

 Oak, and therefore the tree is extremely well adapted to 

 parks and plantations. There is no better food for deer 



* See Mem. Hort. Soc, vol. ii. p. 375, 

 t Note VI. % Note VII. 



