IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 161 



this plant " is seldom eaten by cattle except in cases 

 of great necessity, and remains untouched if other food 

 be obtainable." It should be regularly cut to pre- 

 vent seeding, or it may spread very rapidly. A good 

 dressing of baste slag, 6 to 10 cwt. per acre, has been 

 found beneficial in checking it. 



Gorse, Furze, or Whin (Ulex europceus L.) is a well 

 known and handsome spiny shrub or bush attaining 

 several feet in height, and occurring freely on poor 

 stony moorland, commons, and poor pastures, in the 

 latter position frequently detracting greatly from the 

 value of the grass. 



Another species of Gorse, U. nanus Forster, occurs 

 on heaths, commons, and stony pastures from Ayr 

 southwards, and also in Ireland. It is much smaller 

 than the last species, being only i to 3 feet high ; and 

 the flowers, which are more deeply orange in colour, 

 appear from August to November. A sub-species, 

 U. Gallii Planchon, grows somewhat larger and more 

 erect than U. nanus. It occurs in similar positions, 

 especially in the west from Ayr to Somerset, and in 

 Ireland. 



In order to eradicate Gorse the smaller plants may 

 be grubbed out, and the larger ones burnt in dry 

 weather, the roots being subsequently grubbed out, 

 after which the bare patches should be harrowed over, 

 sown with a suitable seed mixture, and judiciously 

 manured later. All young plants which may appear 

 should be removed at once. Gorse is frequently grown 

 as a fodder crop on poor land in certain districts. 



Broom (Cytisus scoparius Link.) may also be a nuisance 

 on poor stony or sandy pastures and commons, and 

 must be dealt with in a similar manner to Gorse. It 

 has no spines ; the branches are long, slender, and 

 erect, the leaves small and scattered, and the yellow 



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