FLORA DOMESTICA. 



" See there upon the broom-tree's bough 

 The young grey eagle flapping now." 



BOWRING'S RUSSIAN ANTHOLOGY. 



The blossom of the Common Broom closely resembles 

 that of the Furze, both in form and colour that Furze 

 which sheds such a lustre over our heaths and commons, and 

 at sight of which, it is said, Dillenius fell into a perfect 

 ecstasy. In many parts of Germany the Furze-bush is un- 

 known. Gerarde says, that about Dantzic, Brunswick, 

 and in Poland, there was not a sprig of either Furze or 

 Broom ; and it is really a striking sight to come suddenly 

 upon a common, glowing, as it were, in one great sea of 

 gold. Gerarde adds, that, in compliance with earnest and 

 repeated entreaties, he sent seeds to these places, and that 

 the plants raised from them were curiously kept in the finest 

 gardens. Furze bears various names in different parts of 

 England : Furze in the south, Whin in the east, and Gorse 

 in the north. 



" The prickly gorse, that, shapeless and deformed, 

 And dangerous to the touch, has yet its bloom, 

 And decks itself with ornaments of gold." 



COWPER'S TASK. 



" Or from yon swelling downs, where sweet air stirs 

 Blue harebells lightly, and where prickly furze 

 Buds lavish gold." 



KEATS'S ENDYMION. 



St. Pierre evidently alludes to the Furze-bush in the 

 following passage : " I saw in Brittany a vast deal of un- 

 cultivated land ; nothing grows upon it but Broom, and a 

 shrub with yellow flowers, which appeared to me a com- 

 position of thorns. The country people called it Lande, 

 or San : they bruise it, to feed their cattle. The Broom 

 serves only to heat their ovens. It might be turned to 

 better account. The Romans made cord of it, which 

 they preferred to hemp, for their shipping." ST. PIERRE'S 

 VOYAGE TO THE ISLE OF FRANCE. 



