BOX TREE. 65 



But this enchantment has been long since dissolved. 

 Mr. Millar, in 1759, lamented the great havoc made 

 among the trees on Box-hill, though there then remained 

 several of considerable magnitude ; but since that time 

 the destruction has been yet greater. Not only this hill 

 in Surrey, and Boxley in Kent, but Boxwell in Coteswold, 

 Gloucestershire, is said to be named from the Box tree. 

 It has been made a serious and heavy complaint against 

 Box, that it emits an exceedingly unpleasant odour, of 

 which the poets speak as a thing notorious : yet it is only 

 when fresh cut that the scent is unpleasant, and a little 

 water poured over it immediately removes this objection. 



B K O O M. 



SPARTIUM. 



LEGUMINOS^. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 



French, le genet; le genet a balais. — Italian, sparzio; scopa; gi- 

 nestra : all referring to its use as besoms * . 



The Brooms are very ornamental shrubs, with few 

 leaves, but an abundance of brilliant and elegant flowers : 

 they strike a deep root, but are too handsome to be re- 

 jected where room can be afforded for them. They must 

 be planted in a pot or tub of considerable depth. There 

 are three species with white, and one with violet-coloured 

 flowers : the others have all yellow blossoms. 



The violet-coloured has no leaves, and is usually called 

 the Leafless Broom : it was found by Pallas in the Wolga 

 Desert. The Spanish Broom has yellow — the Portugal, 

 white blossoms. The white-flowered, one-seeded kind, is 



* The family of Plantagenet took their name from this shrub, which 

 they wore as their device. 



F 



