119.  Euonymus europaeus.  Spindle-tree.—­An ornamental shrub.  The wood is in great request for making skewers for butchers, as it does not impart any unpleasant taste to the meat.

120.  Fagus Castanea.  The spanish chesnut.—­This tree produces timber similar to oak in point of durability, and the bark also contains a considerable quantity of tannin.  The Chesnut was in greater plenty in this country many years ago than at the present day; large forests are represented to have been in the neighbourhood of London; and we are led to believe such may have been the case, as many of the old buildings when examined have been found to be built of this timber.  The fruit is used as a dainty at table; but the variety which is brought from Portugal and Spain is much larger than what are grown in this country.  The large kind imported from those countries is grafted, and kept on purpose for the fruit.  It is an improvement to graft this variety by taking the scions from trees in bearing, and they will produce fruit in a few years and in a dwarf state.

121.  Fagus sylvatica.  The beech.—­The timber of the Beech is valuable for making wheels, and is applied to many other useful purposes in domestic oeconomy.  The seeds of the Beech are very useful for fattening hogs.

This tree affords many beautiful varieties in foliage, the handsomest of which is the Copper Beech, whose purple leaves form a fine contrast in colour with the lively green of the common sort.

123.  Fraxinus excelsior.  The ash.—­The wood of the Ash is considered the best timber for all purposes of strong husbandry utensils.  The wheels and axle-trees of carriages, the shafts for carts, and the cogs for mill-work, are principally made of this timber.  The young wood when gown in coppices is useful for hop-poles, and the small underwood is said to afford the best fuel of any when used green.  Coppice-land usually sells for a comparatively greater price according as this wood prevails in quantity, on account of its good quality as fuel alone.

124.  Hedera Helix.  Ivy.—­A common plant in woods, and often planted in shady places to hide walls and buildings.  The leaves are good food for deer and sheep in winter.  The Irish Ivy, which was brought from that country, is a fine variety with broad leaves.  It was introduced by Earl Camden.

125.  Hippophae Rhamnoides.  Sea buckthorn.—­This is a scarce shrub; but is very useful as a plant for forming shelter on the hills near the sea-coast, it having been found to stand the sea-breeze better than any plant of the kind that is indigenous to this country.

126.  Ilex aquifolium.  Holly.—­A well-known evergreen of singular beauty, of which we have many varieties, both striped, and of different colours in the leaf.  Birdlime is made from the inner bark of this tree, by beating it in a running stream and leaving it to ferment in a close vessel.  If iron be heated with charcoal made of holly with the bark on, the iron will be rendered brittle; but if the bark be taken off, this effect will not be produced.  Ray’s Works and Travels by Scott.