CHESTNUT TREE. 



93 



but small that grow in England, and are generally left 

 for the hogs and squirrels. 



Some say that the Chestnut is indigenous of this 

 country. EveljTi strongly supports this opinion ; he says, 

 he had once a large barn near London, formed entirely 

 of its timber, " and certainly," continues he, " the trees 

 grew not far off, probably in some wood near the to^\Ti, 

 for in that description of London written by Fitz- 

 Stephens, in the reign of Henry the Second, he speaks 

 of a very noble and large forest which grew to the north 

 of it. And yet some will not allow the Chestnut to be a 

 free-bom of this island, but of that I have little doubt."' 



Dr. Ducarel is of the same opinion; in support of 

 which, he appeals to the ancient records, among wliich 

 he finds a deed of gift from Henry the Second to Flexley 

 Abbey, of the tithe of all his Chestnuts in the Forest of 

 Dean. 



Miller remarks, that it was formerly in greater plenty 

 in England than of late years : " as may be proved," 

 says he, " by the old buildings, which were for the most 

 part of this timber ; and there are decayed old Chestnuts 

 in the woods and chases about London, particularly 

 Enfield Chase." 



Martyn does not support these claims, but doubts 

 whether the timber in our old buildings, supposed by 

 Miller and others to be Chestnut, be not oak of an in- 

 ferior quality. 



This tree is a native of many parts of Asia, China, 

 Cochin China, Japan, &c. and is naturalized in most 

 countries of the south of Europe. It is said that Tiberius 

 Caesar first brought it from Sardis in Lydia to Italy, 

 whence it was carried to other parts of Europe. 



It has been observed, that the Chestnut makes a 



