98 OBSERVATIONS ON THE BROOM. 



ARTICLE II. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE BROOM, 



BX FLORA. 



Not having noticed any observations in the Cabinet relative to the 

 Broom as one of the most ornamental shrubs that adorn the pleasure 

 ground, plantation, or forest wood, induces me to transmit the remarks 

 below. 



I have a peculiar attachment to the old yellow flowering Broom of 

 our own country, and have an immense quantity forming belts at the 

 sides of several large woods and plantations, besides a proportion in 

 my shrubbery. When in bloom they are a mass of beauty, and when 

 out always look cheerful, and afford an evergreen under shelter. I 

 sowed seed, which is very cheap, in the situations I wished to orna- 

 ment, and in the second year they bloomed very profusely. To en- 

 courage others to grow it in all its kinds is my present object. It is 

 delightful to grow it by road sides, walks, in drives, &c, in woods. 



The following interesting particulars upon it are selected from the 

 pen of a celebrated author, and their admission into the Cabinet 

 will, I think, be pleasing to the readers. 



English, broom. — French, le genet ; le genet a balais. — Italian, 

 sparzio ; scopa ; ginestra ; scornabecco ; 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 rejected where room can be afforded for 

 them. 



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 a native both of Spain and Portugal. " It con- 



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

 wore as their device. It has been said that Fulk, the first Earl of Anjou of 

 that name, being stung with remorse for some wicked action, went on pilgrimage 

 to Jerusalem as a work of atonement, where, being soundly scourged with 

 broom-twigs, which grew plentifully on the spot, he ever after took the surname 

 of Plantagenet, or Broom-plant, which was retained by his noble posterity. 



