NOTICES OF FOREST TIMBER. 
594 
the western wind. Its leaves, gathered about the fall, and somewhat 
before they are much frost-bitten, afford the easiest and sweetest 
mattresses in the world to lay under'our quilts instead of straw, and 
continue perfect for seven or eight years. 
The Birch (the Bark) produces that glutinous, odoriferous, and 
inflamable gums or oil which the Germans and Russians employ in 
tanning leather, and which gives it that peculiar odour so hostile to 
insects. It would be peculiarly calculated, if mixed with butter or 
grease, to smear sheep and a small quantity of it would be sufficient. 
The Spanish Chesnut, though not so general a grower as ash, 
is a most excellent wood either for timber or underwood, and wants 
only to be more known to be in higher estimation; it partakes much 
of the properties of oak, but excels it in two points:—it grows 
faster, and the sap part of the timber is firmer, and less corruptible. 
It will thrive on almost all soils, and in all situations. Many 
Spanish chesnuts in Derbyshire have fifty feet of clear stem without 
a bough; these should not be pruned too much, (indeed this may 
be asserted of all trees,) lest they throw out fresh shoots, which 
with judicious annual pruning, will scarcely ever happen, namely, 
the taking out quite close to the stem with a sharp knife, not fewer 
than three, or more than five of the most vigorous branches, always 
beginning at the top of the tree. The Romans first procured the 
chesnut from Thessaly, where it is grown in great abundance by the 
Grecians. Its longevity is great, as is sufficiently proved by the 
celebrated specimen on Mount Etna, which has attained the aston¬ 
ishing circumference of tw r o hundred and four feet. It is the tree 
with which Salvator Rosa delighted to adorn his bold and rugged 
landscapes. It flourished in the mountain of Calabria, which fur¬ 
nished the scenes of this great artist’s pictures. 
The progress of the Horse Chesnut can be traced from parts 
of Northern Asia to Constantinople, thence to Vienna, and thence to 
Paris; wffiere the first tree was planted 1615, it w r as introduced into 
•» 
this country in 1629. 
The Cypress, of all timber, is generally supposed to be the most 
durable, superior to that of the Cedar itself. The doors of St. Peter’s 
church, at Rome, which were formed of this material in the time of 
Constantine, showed no sign of decay after the lapse of 1100 years. 
Pope Eugenius the Tenth, took them down to replace them by 
gates of brass. 
All Firs ought to be felled in summer, because they are then 
fullest of turpentine and heaviest. An Arborist. 
(To be continued.) 
