PEA AND BEAN TRIBE 1V7 



Knapp, in his "Journal of a Naturalist," remarks: — "Our poorer people, 

 a few years ago, used to collect it by cart-loads about the month of July, and 

 the season of ' Woad-waxen ' was a little harvest to them ; but it interfered 

 with our hay-making. Women could gain each about two shillings a-day, 

 clear of all expenses, by gathering it ; but they complained that it was a 

 very hard and laborious occupation, the plant being drawn up by the roots, 

 which were strongly interwoven in the soil. The dyer gave them eight- 

 pence for a hundred weight, but I fear the amount was greatly enhanced by 

 the dishonest practice of watering the load for the specious purpose of keep- 

 ing it green ; and the old woad-waxers tell us that without the increase of 

 weight which the water gave the article, they should have had but little 

 reward for their labour. Greediness here, however, as in most other cases, 

 ruined the trade ; the plant became so injured and stinted by repeated 

 pullings, as to be in these parts no longer an object woi'th seeking for ; and 

 our farmers rather discourage the practice, as the Green-weed preserves and 

 shelters at its roots a considerable quantity of coarse herbage, which, in the 

 winter and spring months, is of great importance to the young cattle 

 browsing on the pastures." Cattle will not eat the plant itself, except when 

 pressed by hunger. 



2. Hairy Green-weed {G. pildsa). — Stems procumbent and thornless; 

 leaves narrow, obtuse, the lower ones often inversely heart-shaped ; flowers 

 axillary, on short stalks ; legumes downy. Plant perennial. This species, 

 which is rare, is found on dry, sandy, and gravelly heaths. It grows about 

 Bury, in Suftblk ; near Malvern, in Worcestershire ; near the Lizard, Corn- 

 wall ; and in some other places, producing its small, bright yellow flowers 

 in May, and again in September. Ics low prostrate stems are much gnarled 

 and branched, and its leaves are densely clothed on their under surfaces with 

 silky hairs. 



3. Needle Green-weed, or Petty Whin {G. dnglica). — Stems thorny, 

 and leafless below ; leaves narrow, smooth ; legumes smooth, inflated. Plant 

 perennial. This is not an uncommon plant on moist heaths and moors. Its 

 flowers, which expand in May and June, are bright yellow, and grow in leafy 

 clusters on the upper branches of the shrub. Its stem is about a foot high, 

 very tough, and bearing at intervals groups of thorns. 



3. Broom (Sarothdmnus). 



Common Broom (S. scopdrim). — Branches angular, slender, and erect ; 

 leaves of 3 leaflets, stalked, upper ones simple ; leaflets oblong ; flowers 

 shortly stalked. Plant perennial. A beautiful shrub is our Common 

 Broom, with its thousands of golden flowers, gleaming like so many butter- 

 flies with expanded wings on the summer boughs, and wafting a delicious 

 odour. The " bonnie Broom " has won the praise of many a poet, and 

 gladdened many a heart full of poetry which it knew not how to express. 

 Mary Howitt apostrophises it pleasantly : — 



" Oh, the Broom, the bonny bonny Broom, 

 On my native hills it grows ; 

 I had rather see the bonny Broom 

 Than the rarest flower that blows. " 



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