This is known as the Spanish or sweet chestnut; the latter name was given because the fruit is edible.

It is a large, fairly common tree in this country, and, like the oak, will live for a very great time.

It attains its maturity, however, quickly, and from that time - usually less than a century - slowly rots away at the heart, old specimens being almost without exception quite useless as timber-producing trees, from this cause.

The annual rings are very distinct, owing to the deep brown colour of the autumn wood, but the medullary ray is invisible, as are also the pores in the spring wood, giving the wood a close, solid appearance.

Chestnut is, when young, very useful for all purposes where strength and durability are required.

Owing to the early decay of the tree, the best timber comes from trees about 50 or 60 years old.

The sap-wood is easily distinguishable, being light in colour, and thus contrasting with the heart-wood, but there is very little of it at any time.