66 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



a native both of Spain and Portugal. " It converts the 

 most barren spot into a fine odoriferous garden," says Mr. 

 Martyn, speaking of this species. 



All the species here named will endure the cold without 

 shelter : they do not like much wet. Our common Broom 

 surpasses many of the foreign kinds in beauty : indeed, 

 few shrubs are more magnificent than this evergreen, with 

 its profusion of bright golden blossoms. They are the 

 delight of the bees : and the young buds, while yet green, 

 are pickled like capers. It is said that the branches are 

 of service in tanning leather, and that a kind of coarse 

 cloth is manufactured from them. The young shoots are 

 mixed with hops in brewing : and the old wood is valuable 

 to the cabinet-maker. Brooms are made from this shrub ; 

 and, from their name, it is supposed to have furnished 

 the first that were made. In the north of Great Britain 

 it is used for thatching cottages, corn, and hay-ricks, and 

 making fences. In some parts of Scotland, where coals 

 and wood are scarce, whole fields are sown with it for 

 fuel. 



But the Scotch have long been aware of the poetry as 

 well as the utility of this beautiful shrub. The burden of 

 one of their most popular songs is well known : 



" O the broom, the bonny bonny broom, 



The broom of the Cowden-knows ; 

 For sure so soft, so sweet a bloom 

 Elsewhere there never grows." 



Burns lauds it, too, in one of his songs, written to an 

 Irish air, which was a great favourite with him, called the 

 Humours of Glen : 



" Their groves of sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon, 

 Where bright beaming summers exalt the perfume ; 

 Far dearer to me yon lone glen o' green breckan, 

 Wi' the burn stealing under the lang yellow broom. 



