THE planter's GUIDE, 



343 



and their being found useful for curing diseases in horses. 

 " Among the Turks they are ground and mixed with the 

 provender of their horses, especially those that are 

 troubled with coughs, or are broken-winded ; in both of 

 which disorders they are accounted good." ''^ 



The Horse-Chestnut is a tree of singular beauty, and of 

 the most stately form. It rises, in favourite situations, to 

 the height of eighty feet and upwards, throwing out its 

 branches to a great width, and assuming in its top a 

 parabolic shape. It forms, also, a most impenetrable 

 shade. The leaves are large, fine, and palmated, and on 

 one stalk decorated with large spikes of the richest white 

 flowers streaked with yellow and rose-colour. This tree 

 is peculiarly distinguished by the very rapid formation of 

 its new shoots, which are often perfected in less than 

 three weeks after the time of foliation. 



The Horse-Chestnut is a free grower, and likewise a 

 very hardy plant. It easily accommodates itself to 

 almost any soil of tolerable quality : but in a sandy 

 loam it will make the most remarkable progress ; and, 

 unless inclining to moisture, the leaves soon lose their 

 verdure in the autumn. It is well adapted to lawns, and 

 particularly to extensive parks, not only from the great 

 size and spreading form of the top, but from the quantity 

 of nuts it produces, which are an excellent food for deer 

 in the rutting season. For single trees the Horse-Chest- 

 nut stands almost unrivalled in the ornamental depart- 

 ment ; and, when in full flower, I can name no tree which 

 is so gay, and at the same time so splendid. Gilpin, 

 nevertheless, calls it " heavy and disagreeable ; " and 

 complains of its being without " those breaks which give 

 an airiness and lightness, or at least a richness, to the 



Miller in voce. 



