1805.] Hiztory. 213

the ſtem nine inches and a quarter, weight two pound three ounces. The above muſhroom was cut in a field in Penwortham.

The wages for reapers in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, on Sept. 95 was three ſhillings per diem for men and women.

We hear from Ireland, that the crops are every where extremely abun- dant. Potatoes in particular are equal in quality and quantity to what was ever remembered,

We believe(lays a Leith paper) there ſcarcely ever was ſo good a crop of/potatces as is all over the country this lealon; they were ſold hcre on Sept. 10, at eight-pence per pack.

The Dundee Veal-market has been uncommonly well furniſhed with ſupe rior calves this ſeaſon. Mr. D. Small killed a very fine one on the 5th; it was eight weeks old, weighing from ten to eleven Itone Dutch, and was fed by Jobn“Tayor, in Backbooth, pariſfh of Carmylic- The butcher's price was ſeven-pence.

At Barnet fair, on the 1oth and 11th, there was a larger ſhew of cattle than has been known for many years 3; ſeveral lots of Welſh and Scots werg ſold at reduced prices, but moſt of the prime beaſts remained untold.

In Newcaſtle market, on the 7th, the ſupply of wheat was ſmall and ſales briſk, at an advance of four ſhillings to ſix Millings per quarter. Other grain as before. E

On the Spanish Chesnuts. By N. Kent, Lsq.

The following intelligent obſervations with which we have been fur niſhed by a provincial friend, were originally addrefled to rhe editor of a recent number of the Ipſwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn Herald. They well deſerve a more permanent preſervation.

I am of opinion that for hop poles and ſtakes, the Cheſnut has no equal in. point of durability, and conſequently no underwood can be applied to thoſe purpoſes with equal profit. It is ſaid it is not ſo quick in growth as aſh; upon a moilt ſoil I think it is not, but upon a ſand or loam I apprehend it will keep full pace with the aſh, and attain ſutficient lize for hop-poles in fourteen years, and be worth at that age two guincas an hundred; and laſtg with proper care, twenty years; whilit aſh, which feldom comes to a ſuffi- cient lize in leſs than twenty years, will only bear two-thirds of the prices and decay in half the time«

For gates and hurdles it is equally good, and being leſs heavy than oak, is another great recommendation to it, as It is removed trom one place to another with greater eaſe. Do thele, and many other purpoles, chelnuts trained and out, as underſtood, is peculiarly adapted; and, in point of beauty, no wood ſurpaſſes it, as it admits of loole planting, runs Kraight in its branches, and always appears Borid and healthy.

I ſhall next conſider the value of the Spaniſh cheinut for timber, in which (except for the unrivalled purpoſe of hip-building) it will be found for moſt purpoſes equal tothe oak, and in buildings and out-door work much ſuperior.

In 1676 an anceſtor of the preſent Mr. Windham, ot Fellbrig, in Norfolk, had the merit of being a conſiderable planter of cheſnuts. In the ſpace of ßfty years, it is prclumed tbeſe plantations required tbinning, as his ſuc- ceſlor, about that time, began to apply this tunber to uſeful purpoſes upon his eſtate.|

The firlk account is of the branch or limb of a cheſnut, about thirteen inches ſquare, which in the year 1726 was put down as a hanging poſt for a gate, and carried the gate without alteration fifty-two ycars, when, upon altering the incloſures ot the farm where it ſtood, it was taken up under my dire&ion, and appearing to be pertettly ſound, was put down tor a clappings poſt in another place.

In 1743 a large barn was built with ſome of this timber, and is now as ſound in eyery part, beams, principals, and ſpars, as When firſt the dara