ÆSCULUS

(a name given by Pliny to a kind of oak having an edible fruit; derived from esca, nourishment). The Horse Chestnut. O RD. Sapindaceæ. A genus of hardy showy trees, well adapted for lawns or parks, having a beautiful appearance when in flower. They will do well in any soil, but the more loamy the better. Increased by layers, put down in the spring, or by grafting or budding on the common horse chestnut. Seeds, where procurable, should be sown singly in rows in spring, where they may remain until they are of sufficient size to be permanently planted out. This genus is distinguished from Pavia, in having its capsules echinated, i.e., covered with prickles, like a hedgehog; but this character is not always consistent.