318 
PLIKy's KATUliAL HISTOit^. 
[Book XY. 
we mentioned and Elaccus Pompeius, a Eoman of Eques- 
trian rank, who served with, him, introduced it at the same 
period into Spain. 
CHAP. 25. (23.) EIGHTEEN YAEIETIES OP THE CHESNUT. 
We give the name of nut, too, to the chesnut,^^ although it 
would seem more properly to belong to the acorn tribe. The 
chesnut has its armour of defence in a shell bristling with 
prickles like the hedge-hog, an envelope which in the acorn 
is only partially developed. It is really surprising, however, 
that Nature should have taken such pains thus to conceal an 
object of so little value. We sometimes find as many as 
three nuts beneath a single outer shell. The skin^^ of the nut 
is limp and flexible : there is a membrane, too, which lies 
next to the body of the fruit, and which, both in this and in 
the walnut, spoils the flavour if not taken off. Chesnuts are 
the most pleasant eating when roasted they are sometimes 
ground also, and are eaten by women when fasting for reli- 
gious scruples,"*^ as bearing some resemblance to bread. It is 
from Sardes*^ that the chesnut was first introduced, and hence 
it is that the Greeks have given it the name of the Sardian 
acorn;" for the name 'VDios balanon" was given at a later 
period, after it had been considerably improved by cultivation. 
At the present day there are numerous varieties of the 
chesnut. Those of Tarentum are a light food, and by no 
means difficult of digestion ; they are of a flat shape. There 
is a rounder variety, known as the balanitis it is very 
easily peeled, and springs clean out of the shell, so to say, of 
In c. xxi. of this Book. 
The tree is the Fagus castanea of Linnaeus. Cortex. 
*2 The common mode of eating it at the present day. The Italians also 
take off the skin and dry the nut ; thus keeping it from year to year. 
When required for eating, it is softened by the steam of boiling water. 
^■^ Not improbably said in allusion to the fasts introduced by the Jews, 
who had become very numerous in Rome. 
It was said to have come from Castana, a city of Pontus, whence its 
name " Castanea." It is probably indigenous to Europe. 
'^^ The Greek for "Jove's acorn." 
Or " acorn chesnut." The same variety, Fee says, that is found in 
the vicinity of Perigueux, small, nearly round, and without any particular 
flavour. 
