118 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



The Winged-leaved Cytisus is a handsome shrub, 

 scarcely two feet high : the flowers are large, and of a 

 deep yellow. It is a native of Siberia. 



The Common Cytisus is a native of the South of 

 Europe : it grows seven or eight feet high, is very bushy, 

 and has bright yellow flowers. These will live all the 

 year abroad after they are first raised to strength. If the 

 weather be very dry, they should be watered once or twice 

 a week. 



Virgil recommends the Cytisus as a food for goats : 



" At cui lactis amor, cytisos, lotosque frequentes 

 Ipse maim, salsaque ferat praesepibus herbas." 



VIRGIL, GEORGIC 3. 



" Those who desire to have milk, must give them with their own 

 hands plenty of cytisus and water-lilies, and lay salt herbs in their 

 cribs." MARTYN'S TRANSLATION, p. 313. 



The bright blossoms of the Laburnum have not escaped 

 the attention of our poets. Mr. Keats, in two distinct 

 passages of his earliest poetry, each representing the 

 flowery nook most beautiful to his fancy, gives a place to 

 the Laburnum : 



" A bush of May-flowers with the bees about them ; 

 Ah, sure no tasteful nook would be without them : 

 And let a lush laburnum oversweep them, 

 And let long grass grow roiind the roots to keep them 

 Moist, cool, and green ; and shade the violets, 

 That they may bind the moss in leafy nets. 



***** 



Where the dark-leaved laburnum's drooping clusters 

 Reflect athwart the stream their yellow lustres, 

 And intertwined the cassia's arms unite 

 With its own drooping buds, but very white." 



" Laburnum, rich 



In streaming gold.*' 



COWPER'S TASK. 



