176 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



The capsule, or seed-vessel, is divided into three cells, 

 in which lie the nuts, two of which are generally sacrificed 

 to the w^elfare of their third companion ; these nuts are 

 no less beautiful, when fresh, than is the tree that bears 

 them : many of these nuts have the appearance of the 

 most elegantly veined and finely pohshed mahogany. 



Martyn remarks, that this tree has not of late been so 

 much planted in avenues and walks as formerly, on account 

 of the early falling of the leaves, Avhich makes a htter 

 under them, even from July till they all have fallen ; but 

 notwithstanding this inconvenience, says he, the tree has 

 great merit, for it affords a noble shade very early ; and 

 during the time of flowering, no tree has more beauty. 



Another inconvenience attendino- this noble tree is, that 

 it does not well resist violent and stormy winds ; yet it 

 looks best when standing apart, where the branches have 

 room to spread. The blossoms appear in May, or, as the 

 poet will have it, in June ; and continue in beauty a 

 month or more. 



" In June that chestnut shot its blossomed spires 

 Of silver upward, 'mid the foHage dark, 

 As if some sylvan deity had hung 

 Its dim iimbrageousness with votive wreaths." 



D. M. MoiR.* 



Mr. Gilpin is no great admirer of this tree; indeed 

 he rather quarrels with all large-leaved trees. " It forms 

 its fohage,'" says he, " generally in a round mass, with 

 little appearance of those breaks which contribute to give 

 an airiness and lightness, at least a richness and variety, 

 to the whole mass of foliage. This tree, however, is 



* See Time's Telescope for 1825, p. 258. 



