Chestnut

Chestnut (Castanea) - A noble tree, native of E. and S. Europe. There are fine old trees in many of England seats in all parts of the south of the country, though excepting in the warmer counties, the fruit is not as good as on the Continent of Europe. The Chestnut thrives best in airy and warm situations, and upon stony or free soils, not caring much for chalk or heavy soils. It is easily raised from seed planted directly where it is to grow. There are on the Continent, where the tree is much more grown than here, a good many varieties grown for the value of their fruits. Variegated varieties as usual are useless. There are a few other species, such as C. crenata (Japan), dentata (N. America), and the dwarf C. pumila of the southern States of N.America, but these are of slight value compared to that of C. Vesca, the beauty of old trees of which is very great, as seen at Shrubland, Tortworth, Cowdray, and many other places. The names "Sweet" and "Spanish," applied to this tree, are quite needless and confusing. There is a cut-leaved form, C. dissecta.