248 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



goes out of fashion, when the furze is out of 

 blossom. 



This plant, which is as singular by its 

 chevaux-de-frise branches, as enlivening by its 

 golden colour, is only to be found in tem- 

 perate climates. Provence is its boundary 

 to the south, and it reaches neither Sweden 

 nor Russia towards the north. Linnaeus 

 lamented that he could hardly preserve it 

 alive in a greenhouse; and so rare is it in 

 many parts of Germany, that Dillenius, their 

 botanist, was in a perfect ecstasy, when he first 

 visited England, and saw our commons co- 

 vered with the gay flowers of the furze-bush. 



" The sight is pleased, 



The scent regaled, each odoriferous leaf, 

 Each opening blossom, freely breathes abroad 

 Its gratitude, and thanks him with its sweets !" 



Gerard tells us, that he was " desired by 

 diuers earnest letters," to send seeds of our 

 common furze and broom to Dantzick, 

 Brunswick, and Poland, where the plants 

 were most curiously kept in their fairest 

 gardens. 



The furze-bush is the favourite nestling 

 bush of one of our feathered warblers, which 

 did not escape the sweet poet of the seasons. 



" Nor are the linnets, o'er the flowering furze 

 Pour'd owt profusely, silent." 



