The twigs, when bruifed, fmell difagreeably ; this may, perhaps, be one reafon for their being generally 

 rejected by cattle: the plant, however, affords nouriffiment to a great variety of infects ; in particular, to 

 the larvas of feveral Phalcenos not defcribed by Linnaeus. 



FFom the roots of this plant fprings the Broom Rape, figured in a former number of this work. 



" The leaves and (talks' of broom have a naufeous bitter tafte, which they give out by infufion, both to 

 ^ water and rectified fpirit; and which, on gently infpifTating the filtred liquors, remains concentrated in the 

 (t extracts : the watery tincture is of a yellowifh green or brownilh, the fpirituous of a dark green colour. 

 *' They are accounted laxative, aperient, and diuretic ; and in this intention have been often ufed by the 

 (( common people jn dropfies and other ferous diforders. Dr. Mead relates a cafe of an hydropic perfon, 

 f who, after the paracentefis had been thrice performed, and fundry purgatives and diuretics had been tried 

 " without relief, was perfectly cured, by taking, every morning and evening, half a pint of a decoction of 

 f ' green broom tops, with a fpoonful of whole muftard feed: by this medicine, the third was abated, the 

 * f belly loofened, and the urinary difcharge increafed to the quantity of at lead five or fix pints a day. 



?? Infufions of the afhes of the plant in acidulous wines, have likewife been employed in the fame intention, 

 ff and often with good fuccefs. The virtue of this medicine does not depend, as fome have fuppofed, on 

 f l any of the peculiar qualities of the broom remaining in the allies, but on the alkaline fait and earth, which 

 f are the fame in the afhes of broom as in thofe of other vegetables, combined, wholly or in part, with the 

 f : vinous acid. A folution qven of the pure earthy part of vegetable alhes, made in vegetable acids, proves 

 $' notably purgative and diuretic. 



" Of the feeds and flowers, the medicinal qualities ate not well known. It is faid, that the feeds, in 

 " dofes of a dram and a half in fubftance, and five or fix drams in decoction or infufion, prove purgative or 

 ff emetic. Some report that the flowers alfo operate in the fame manner: but Lobel affures us, from his 

 ** own obfervation, that they have been taken in quantity without producing any fuch effect : and I have 

 *' known infufions of the flowery tops drank freely in fome afthmatic cafes, without any other fenfible operation 

 fC than a falutary increafe of urine and expectoration. The feeds, flightly roafted, are ufed in fome places as 

 *' coffee." Lewis's Mater. Med. p. 318. 



A variety of this plant, much more hoary than common, is accidentally met with ; the moft ufual time of 

 its flowering with us, is about the latter end of May or beginning of June. 



Thomson, whofe obferving eye rarely fuffered any of the beauties of nature to efcape him, has noticed 

 the flowering of this flirub in the following paflage, in which )ie defcribes the effect which the genial warmth 

 pf the feafon produces on the various animals : 



" While thus the gentle tenants of the fhade 

 ¥ Indulge their purer loves, the rougher world 

 (i Of brutes below rufh furious into flame 

 " And fierce defire. Thro' all his lufty veins 

 ci The bull deep-fcorch'd, the raging paflion feels ; 

 f s Of pafture fick, and negligent of food, 

 f f Scarce feen, he wades among the yellow broom» 



