BROOM. 155 



lively that it was or was not then cultivated 

 in England. 



Clusius, the celebrated German botanist, 

 who with such indefatigable labour collected 

 the plants of Spain, Languedoc, England, 

 the Alps, Austria, some parts of Hungary, 

 and those about Frankfort, during the 16th 

 century, tells us, that he observed the white 

 single-seeded broom, monospermum, about 

 Cadiz, near the coast, flowering in February 9 

 and also abundantly in Arragon. Osbeck re- 

 marks, that it flourishes like willow bushes 

 along the shores of Spain, as far as the 

 flying sands reach, where scarcely any other 

 plant grows except the creeping restharrow. 

 The use of this species of broom is very 

 great in stopping the sand. It converts the 

 most barren spot into a fine odoriferous 

 garden by it's flowers, which continue a long 

 time. The leaves and young branches are 

 delicious food for goats. It serves to shelter 

 sheep, goats, and hogs, from the scorching 

 heat of the sun. The twigs are used for 

 tying bundles ; and all kinds of herbs that 

 are brought to market are fastened together 

 with them. The Spaniards call it retamas, 

 from the Arabic name rcetam. Forskahl tells 

 us, he found this plant in Arabia ; and Des>- 

 fontaines in Barbary, on the sandy coast. 



