190 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Dogwood (Cornus Mas). 
A native of the East, the Dogwood is planted by the peasants 
in a corner of the enclosure. Its fruits ripen towards the end of 
the season, and are either immediately consumed fresh or made 
into jelly or syrup. The housewife markets the fruit, and may 
thus obtain from 5 to 10 francs per tree. The red-fruited 
variety, which is more or less large and early, is the most 
popular. 
The Medlar (Mespilus). 
The Medlar is a fruit of second- or third-rate quality. It 
grows along the banks of streams, or is grafted on the Haw- 
thorns in the hedges, or is dotted about in the wide, open spaces 
of the meadows. It is trained as a half-standard or as a 
weeping bush. 
In the West and Centre of France, and in Normandy, growers 
sent to market Medlars to the value of 500, 800, and 1,000 francs. 
The growers of Puisaye throw the fruit before it is ripe into the 
press with Pears and Apples for making cider. 
The Chestnut (Castanea). 
The Chestnut has constantly been used as food by the 
peasants of the mountainous regions of the Auvergne, and of 
Limousin, Dauphine, Forey, Vivarais, Quercy, Koussillon, 
Savoy, Corsica, and on the hills of Pcrigord, Berry, Poitou, Bas- 
Bugey, Brittany, and Vendee, especially whenever the cereals 
and the vines have ripened their crops badly. 
The largest Chestnut groves exist in the departments of 
Corrczc and Dordogne. In the latter, 2,500,000 quintals of 
Chestnuts arc produced, and represent 23,000,000 francs. One- 
fifth of them is exported. Haute-Vienne comes next in amount 
of prodnction, and furnishes Chestnuts from Lusignan ; then 
the Ardcchc, which supplies the Lyons market with Chestnuts 
for table use. The Vcsscaux Chestnuts for confectionery, known 
as the Groussaudc variety, come from Correze. 
Corsica sends to Italy its Chestnut farina, used in the 
preparation of " pottona " or " polenta dolce." 
The varieties cultivated bear local names. Nevertheless, 
such Chestnuts as Priiiianidro., Exaladc, Grossc romjc, Vcrle (hi 
Liniouaiii, N(jiulUarc(c,m'dy bu recommended as largo and fur Lile 
