CHAPTER VIII.
_Of the Chesnut._ 1.

The next is the chesnut, [_castanea_] of which Pliny reckons many kinds, especially about Tarentum and Naples; Janus Cornarius, upon that of Aetius, (_verbo_ +Drys+) speaks of the Lopimi, as a nobler kind, such as the _Euboicae_, which the Italians call _maroni_, _quasi castaneae maris_; but we commend those of Portugal or Bayonne, chusing the largest, brown, and most ponderous for fruit, such as Pliny calls _coctivae_, but the lesser ones to raise for timber.

They are produc'd best by sowing and setting; previous to which, let the nuts be first spread to sweat, then cover them in sand; a month being past, plunge them in water, reject the swimmers; being dry'd, for thirty days more, sand them again, and to the water-ordeal as before.

Being thus treated till the beginning of Spring, or in November, set them as you would do beans; and as some practise it, drench'd for a night or more, in new milk; but without half this preparation, they need only be put into the holes with the point upmost, as you plant tulips; Pliny will tell you they come not up, unless four or five be pil'd together in a hole; but that is false, if they be good, as you may presume all those to be which pass this examination; nor will any of them fail: But being come up, they thrive best unremoved, making a great stand for at least two years upon every transplanting; yet if needs you must alter their station, let it be done about November, and that into a light friable ground, or moist gravel, however they will grow even in clay, sand, and all mixed soils, upon exposed and bleak places, and the pendent declivities of hills to the north, in dry airy places, and sometimes (tho' not so well) near marshes and waters; but they affect no other compost, save what their own leaves afford them, and are more patient of cold than heat: As for their sowing in the nursery, treat them as you are taught in the wall-nut.
2.

If you design to set them in Winter, or Autumn, I counsel you to interr them within their husks, which being every way arm'd, are a good protection against the mouse, and a providential integument.