220 SWEET CHESNUT. 
esculentum) is much cultivated for this purpose in the 
West Indies and South America. The leaves of this 
plant, when boiled, are much esteemed as potherbs, 
and the roots are eaten either baked or boiled. 
235. The SWEET CHESNUT (Fagus castanea, Fig. 65) 
is a stately tree, which grows wild in some of the southern 
and western parts of England, and is distinguished In/ having 
spear-shaped and pointed leaves, with tapering serratures at 
the edge. 
The flowers appear in long hanging spikes or clusters, about 
the month of May ; and the fruity which is ripe in September) 
is enveloped in a husk defended by a great number of com- 
plicated prickles. 
Notwithstanding the known durability of the oak, 
there does not appear any well-authenticated instance 
of the age of an oak being equal to that of the cele- 
brated chesnut-tree, at Tortworth, in Gloucestershire, 
which was known as a boundary mark in the reign of 
King John. This tree is supposed to have then been 
more than 500 years old, making its age at this time 
to exceed 1100 years. The diameter of its trunk is 
fifteen feet, and it still continues to bear fruit. 
Few of our forest trees are more beautiful than the 
chesnut. It is true that the generality of painters pre- 
fer the oak for its picturesque form ; but in the land- 
scapes of Salvator Rosa, and other celebrated masters, 
chesnut-trees are very conspicuous. 
The timber of this tree was formerty much in use. 
The beams and rafters of many of our most ancient 
.churches are formed of it ; and its appearance so nearly 
resembles that of the oak, that it requires the eye of 
a good judge to distinguish them from each other. For 
the heads and staves of casks, the wood of the chesnut 
is considered peculiarly excellent; and pipes, made 
of it for the conveyance of water under ground, are said 
to be more durable than those either of elm or oak. 
For furniture it may be stained so as somewhat to 
resemble mahogany. Hop-poles, and poles for espaliers 
