Cultivation
Colonel Henry Bunbury brought seeds from India in 1851, from which plants were raised by Sir Charles J.F. Bunbury[1] at Barton in Suffolk. The large tree[2] now flourishing on the lawn at Barton (Plate 65) is one of the original seedlings, and measured, in 1904, 66 feet high by 7 feet 9 inches in girth. Another tree in the arboretum at Barton measured 65 feet high by 7 feet 2 inches in girth; and divides into two main stems at 7 feet above the ground. This tree flowered for the first time in 1858, producing twelve panicles, being then only seven years old from seed, and 16 feet in height. It did not suffer in the least from the terrible winter of 1860, and flowered as usual in the summer following. In 1868 it ripened fruit, and four thriving plants were raised from its seed. There are no records of the tree on the lawn, which is now the finer of the two. Other trees were planted apparently at Mildenhall,[3] which is about fifteen miles distant from Barton; but these never throve, and none remain. The soil at Mildenhall is a light loam on chalk, and probably did not suit the tree.
I saw the beautiful tree at Barton in full flower on June 24, 1905, when it did not seem to have received the least injury from the severe frosts and cold north-east winds which had occurred a month previously, and which ruined the flowers and destroyed the fruit of the common horse-chestnut in many places.
It seems incredible that this species should be so rare and have remained so little known in England, where it ought to be planted generally in the south and west. Mr. Bean says that the seeds soon lose their vitality if kept dry, and that of some scores received in ordinary paper packets from India in recent years, not one has germinated at Kew. He recommends that the seeds should be gathered as soon as ripe, and be sent packed in fairly moist soil. Mr. Walker, the gardener at Barton, informed me that it ripens seed in good years, and showed me several seedlings raised from them which appeared to grow as well as the common horse-chestnut,
The only other place except Kew, however, where we have seen it, is at Tortworth, where the Earl of Ducie planted in 1890 a few seeds which were sent to him by the late Duke of Bedford. The seedlings were planted at first in sunny places in the open, but did not thrive until moved to a sheltered dell in 1900, where they are now growing well, the best being about 12 feet high.
At Kew there are two or three small trees which have flowered a few times. It seems, therefore, that it only requires a good deep soil and a sheltered situation to succeed as well as it has done at Barton. The late Lord Morley informed me that there was a tree recently planted, but growing very well at Saltram, his place in Devonshire.
According to Jouin,[4] this tree is quite hardy at Metz. (H.J.E.)
