468 breck's new book of flowers. 



or browsed by the Buffalo, from which it derives its com- 

 mon name. The tree is graceful in its appearance, grow- 

 ing from ten to thirteen feet high ; the branches are rather 

 pendulous ; the leaves are small, of a soft, woolly nature, 

 and have a silvery appearance. It has staminate and 

 pistillate flowers on different plants, hence both kinds 

 should be grown together. The branches of the female 

 trees are thickly studded with clusters of small crimson 

 berries, nearly the size of the red currant. The fruit has 

 a pleasant acid flavor, and is sometimes used for jelly or 

 preserve. There is an astringent taste in addition to the 

 acid, which makes the fruit of little value, in comparison 

 with the common currant. For an ornamental tree or 

 shrub, it deserves a place among other plants. It is beau- 

 tiful in fruit. The flowers cannot boast of much beauty. 



SPARTIUM. -Broom. 



[From the Greek, signifying cordage ; the earliest ropes were made of this 

 and similar plants.] 



Spartium SCOparium. — Common Broom. — A shrub, 

 thick-set with verdant, flexible, rush-like twigs, which are 

 very ornamental in winter, and generally profusely cov- 

 ered with showy, white, or yellow, pea-shaped flowers in 

 summer. A very ornamental shrub in the garden scenery. 

 It is not very common in New England, as our winters 

 are rather severe upon it. In the interior of the country, 

 we find no difficidty in keeping it, when the snows are 

 deep. If i)lanted on the north side of a wall, and covered 

 with snow, it will be found i)erfeotly green in the s^mng, 

 and will flower abundantly. 



