XXV. legumina'ce^ : cy'tisus. 217 



according to which of these may have been chosen as the stock) with 

 yellow flowers, and of the purple laburnum. This was soon observed 

 both in France and England. (See Gard. Mag., vol. xii. p. 225., 

 vol. XV. p. 122.; and Arb. Brit., 1st edit., p. 590.) It is a very vi- 

 gorous, and somewhat erect and fastigiate, growing variety, having 

 produced shoots from 6 ft. to 9 ft. long in one season ; but, though it 

 has been highly spoken of by some cultivators, in point of beauty, it 

 cannot be recommended. 

 5? C. (L.) a. i frdgra7is Hort. Blossoms fragrant. There are plants 

 in the Hackney Arboretum. 



Miller recognised C. Laburnum and C. alpinus as species; but Linnaeus 

 did not. Whether they are species or varieties, they are certainly very dis- 

 tinct ; as much so, perhaps, as the Quercus i26bur pedunculatum, and Q. R. 

 sessilifiorum, and like these two oaks they come true from seed. Both sorts, 

 being highly ornamental, have been extensively propagated and cultivated in 

 British gardens and plantations. There are trees at Syon of C. alpinus above 

 40 ft. high^ and some at Alnwick Castle with trunks 3 ft. in diameter. The 

 heart-wood of the laburnum is of a dark colour ; and, though of rather a 

 coarse ^rain, it is very hard and durable : it will take a polish, and may be 

 made to resemble ebony. A cubic foot weighs 52 lb. 1 1 oz. in a dried state. 

 The colour and grain of the heart-wood vary much, according to the soil, and 

 the age of the tree. It is darkest in the C. Xaburnum, when grown on poor 

 calcareous soil ; and lightest in the C. (Zr.) alpinus, when grown in deep rich 

 soil : in which last case its colour is a sort of greenish black. It is in much 

 demand among turners and cabinet-makers. The ordinary use of the wood in 

 the North of Scotland, is to form alternate staves with the wood of the holly, 

 or the spindle tree, in making small noggins, or bickers ; but it is also used 

 for the bowls of punch-ladles ; for flutes, and other musical instruments. 

 Hares and rabbits being remarkably fond of the bark of the laburnum, it has 

 been suggested to sow laburnum seeds, in order to produce an undergrowth in 

 plantations liable to be infested with these animals; for, though the plants are 

 eaten to the ground every winter, yet they will spring up again the next season, 

 and thus yield a regular supply of winter's food for these kinds of game. As 

 an ornamental tree, the laburnum has few rivals. The shape of the head is 

 irregular and picturesque; its foliage is of a smooth, shining, and beautiful 

 green ; and, what is a great recommendation to every ornamental plant, it is 

 not liable to be preyed on by insects. Though the laburnum will grow in a 

 very indifferent soil, it requires a deep fertile sandy loam to attain a large size. 

 In regard to situation, as the tree puts out few horizontal roots, and has rather 

 a spreading head, when it grows rapidly it is apt to be blown aside by high 

 winds ; but, for the same reason, it is less injurious to plants growing near it, 

 than some other ornamental trees. For producing timber, it should be placed 

 in masses in a sheltered situation, or in a plantation among other trees, so as 

 to be drawn up with a clear straight stem ; and when so circumstanced, in 

 good soil, C. (L.) alpinus will grow to the height of from 35 ft. to 45 ft. Both 

 C. Zaburnum and C. (L.) alpinus are invariably raised from seed, and the 

 pendulous and other varieties are propagated by grafting or budding on either 

 of the common sorts. The seeds are lit to gather in (October ; and they may 

 be kept in the pod, in a dry airy loft, till the March following, when they 

 should be sown in beds of light soil, at about an inch apart every way, and 

 covered about half an inch or three quarters of an inch thick. Half the plants 

 which come up will be fit for transplanting into nursery lines in the Novembei* 

 lOUowinii. 



4. C. Welden// Vis. Welden's Cytisus. 



PI. Dalm. Ex. Bot. Zeit., Jan. IS30.,p. 52. ; Don's Mill, 



Bot. Reg., 1839, Month. Reg., No. 122. 



13. from a drawing kindly sent us by the late Baron Jacqv 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Erect. Leaves ternate, petiolate ; leaflets elliptic, entire, cu- 



Ideniification. Visiani PI. Dalm. Ex. Bot. Zeit., Jan. 1830., p. 52. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 155. ; Hort. 



*1. Austr., 2. p. 339. ; Bot. Reg., 1839, Month. Reg., No. 122. 

 hngraving. Our Jig. 343. from a drawing kindly sent us by the late Baron Jacquln. 



