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SYLVA FL0R1FERA. 



The Spartium multiflorum is a native of 

 Portugal and Mount Atlas. It was first in- 

 troduced to this country by Mr. James 

 Gordon, about the year 1770. We have 

 now thirty distinct species of broom ; some 

 of which have several varieties, which we 

 shall pass unnoticed, excepting the Spanish 

 broom with double blossoms, which is very 

 unusual, in papilionaceous flowers. 



The common broom is not deficient in it's 

 uses in rural economy and medicine. In most 

 country villages it is known to the housewife 

 as affording besoms for sweeping; from 

 whence originated the name of " broom" for 

 those domestic cleansers. Ammianus Mar- 

 cellinus, a Roman historian of the fourth 

 century, relates, that in his time there 

 flourished at Rome the broom, which was 

 made use of to clean the place where the 

 nobility assembled; which presaged, says this 

 pagan author, that men, the very dregs of the 

 people, would be raised to the first ranks. 



In the northern parts of Great Britain it 

 serves for thatching cottages, corn, and hay 

 ricks ; and it makes an excellent substitute 

 for reeds in fences or screens. In some parts 

 of Scotland, where coals and wood are scarce, 

 it is said whole fields are sown with it for fuel. 

 The branches are known to be capable of 



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