444 
an admirable shade, it may be of use in thickening distant scenery; or in skreening an object near at 
hand: for there is no species of foliage, however heavy, nor any species of bloom, however glaring, 
which may not be brought, by some proper contrast, to produce a good effect.* 
Few trees make a greater progress than this. I have known some raised from nuts, which in 
twelve or fourteen years were large enough to shade tw r o or three chairs under the spread of their 
branches, and were covered with flowers. There are many old trees now standing, which having 
been planted singly, are grown to a large size, their heads forming a fine natural parabola. I have 
measured some of them, whose branches have extended more than thirty feet, and their heads have 
been so close as to afford a perfect shade in the hottest seasons. These were planted in 1679; bo 
that although they are of quick growth, yet they are not of short duration. 
As the wood is of little value, this tree should not however be propagated in too great plenty; 
but a few of them only placed at proper distances in parks, for ornament, and for the deer, who 
keep much about them in windy weather, watching the falling of the nuts, and greedily devouring 
them as they fall. In Turkey, the nuts are ground, and mixed with the provender for their horses, 
especially those which are troubled with coughs or are broken winded. 
Hanbury affirms, that swine will fatten on them; while others on the contrary assert that they 
are so bitter, that even hogs will not eat them, either raw, boiled or baked. Haller relates, that 
sheep have been fed with the nuts whole, and have done very well with them: and that poultry have 
been kept with them boiled. He also observes, that having a saponaceous quality, they may be 
used to spare soap in washing: and that the bark of the tree has been given in Italy not without 
success, in intermittent fevers. This bark has also been used with good profit, in dying several 
sorts of yellow colours. 
The timber, though of inferior quality, does not merit the character that Mr. Miller gives of it, 
namely, that it is not fit even for burning, nor any other use that he knows of. Mr. Boutcher, 
though he affirms that the timber, except for fuel, answers no valuable purpose; yet allows that for 
pipes, to convey water under ground, it will last longer than many harder woods. Dr. Hunter in¬ 
forms us, that it is chiefly used by the turner, and in the north is worth about sixpence a foot. And 
Mr. Hanbury not only admits it to be useful for most sorts of turners' ware; but that as the tree 
grows to a great magnitude, it sells at such a price, as to make it well worth the planting, for the 
sake of timber. He prescribes the felling to be performed in November or December. 
The Ilorse-chesnut was brought from the northern parts of Asia into Europe about the year 1550, 
and was brought to Vienna about the year 1558. From Vienna it migrated into Italy and France; 
but it came to us fiom the Levant immediately.J* Gerard, in his herbal, J speaks of it only as a 
foreign tree. In Johnsons edition of the same work,§ it is said, Horse-chesnut groweth in 
Italy, and in sundry places of the East countries; it is now growing with Mr. Tradescant at 
South Lambeth. Parkinson |j says, our Christian world had first the knowledge of it from Con¬ 
stantinople. 
The same author^ - places the Horse-chesnut in his orchard, as a fruit-tree, between the Walnut 
and the Mailberry. How little it was then (1629) known, may be inferred from his saying not only 
that it is of a greater and more pleasant aspect, for the fair leaves, but also of as good use for the 
fruit, which is of a sweet taste, roasted and eaten as the ordinary sort. He also describes and figures 
the corolla with four petals. 
Forest Scenery, Vol. I. p.62. Evelyn. £ Printed in 1597- 
§ Printed in 1633. || Theat. printed 1640. ^ Parad. p. 595. 
