the Beech Tree; a genus of plants belonging to the monocotyledoneae class, and in the natural method ranking under the 50th order, Amentaceae. See Botany Index.

The chestnut tree, one of the species belonging to this genus, sometimes grows to an immense size. The largest in the known world are those which grow upon Mount Etna in Sicily. At Tottworth in Gloucestershire, there is a chestnut tree 52 feet round. It is proved to have stood there ever since the year 1153, and was then so remarkable that it was called the great chestnut of Tottworth. It fixes the boundary of the manor, and is probably near 1000 years old. As an ornamental, the chestnut, though unequal to the oak, the beech, and the sycamore, has a degree of greatness belonging to it which recommends it strongly to the gardener's attention. Its uses have been highly extolled; and it may deserve a considerable share of the praise which has been given it. As a substitute for the oak, it is preferable to the elm. For door-jams, window-frames, and some other purposes of the house carpenter, it is nearly equal to oak itself; but it is very apt to be shaky, and there is a deceitful brittleness in it which renders it unsafe to be used as beams, or in any other situation where an uncertain load is required to be borne. It is universally allowed to be excellent for liquor casks; as not being liable to shrink nor to change the colour of the liquor it contains; it is also strongly recommended as an underwood for hop-poles, stakes, &c. Its fruit too is valuable, not only for swine and deer, but as a human food; bread is said to have been made of it. Upon the whole, the chestnut, whether in the light of ornament or use, is undoubtedly an object of the planter's notice.