Chestnuts.

Manawatu Herald, 30 May 1896, Page 3

Chestnuts.

♦ To Bave, at once, all attempts to make any little joke at the heading of this article, the chestnuts to be referred to are not of the order one has got accustomed to in tho Ameri.cin newspapers, these are no old worn-out jokes or anything of the sort, we are simply about to refer to the tree chestnutThe ordinary chestnut is a native of Western Asia, Southern Europe, and the United States. It is grown freely in England, for who does not remember the lines •• Under a spread ing chestnut tree, the village smithy stands " ? We find that two of our old settlers have been growing the fruiting chestnuts for a few years, Messrs George Nye and John Daviftr, both of whom have sent us Bamplea of the nut. Mr Nye has a number of trees at Sunnyside, grow ing in his deep swamp soil whilst those Mr Daviea has are grown on much lighter soil at Wirokino. The chestnut grown for the nut is known as the Spanish or Sweit Chestnut, and the wood is largely usid in cabinet making. The young wood is more elastic, and is used for hoops and similar purposes. There are many varieties but an authority states the Downton, and the Prolific, or Devonshire, are most esteemed in England. The better sorts are propagated by grafting on the ordinary chestnut of our nurseries, which is raised, from seed. Chestnuts ate generally eaten roasted, mostly with a little salt. They are also stewed in cream, and eaten with, aalt fish. In keeping them dryness is necessary. In a nursery catalogue we notioe that the Japanese Mammoth Cheat* nnt is stated to be remarkable for its early bearing and the great size and fine flavour of the nuts, which average twice the. size of the best Italian and Spanish Chestnuts, some weighing 1$ ounces. It bears when only three or four year* of «g«. '