OF FOREST-TREES. 



113 



seed at the shops in London. It seems that in the more eastern parts cHAP. VI. 

 of Germany, and especially in Poland, this vulgar trifle, and even our ^^■-^^"^ 

 common Broom is so rare, that they have desired the seeds of them out 

 of England, and preserve them with extraordinary care in their best 

 gardens. This I learn out of our Johnson's Herbal ; by which we may 

 consider, that what is reputed a curse, and a cumber in one place, is 

 often esteemed an ornament and blessing in another : but we shall not 

 need go so far for this, since both Beech and Birch are almost as great 

 strangers in many parts of this nation, particularly Northampton and 

 Oxfordshire. Mr. Cook says much in praise of Juniper for hedges, 

 especially for the more elegant enclosures. 



BROOM. 



GENISTA SCOP ARIA^ BROOM. This is another improvement 

 for barren grounds, and saver of more substantial fuel : it may be sown 

 English, or (what is more sweet and beautifid) Spanish, with equal 

 success. In the western parts of France, and with us in Cornwall, it 

 grows to an incredible height, (however our poet gives it the epithet 

 of Humilis,) and so it seems they had it of old, as appears by Gratius's 

 Genistse Altinates, with which, as he affirms, they used to make staves 

 for their spears and hunting-darts. The seeds of Broom vomit and 

 purge, whilst the buds and flowers, being pickled, are very grateful. 



ELDER. 



SAMBUCUS The ELDER. This makes a considerable fence, 

 if set of reasonable lusty truncheons, much like the Willow, and (as 

 I have seen them maintained) laid with great curiosity ; these far excel 



SPARTIUM (scoparwm) foliis ternatis solitariisque, ramis inermibus angulatis.~ 

 Lin. Sp. PI. 997. Common ekgiish broom. It is of the class and order Diadelphia 

 Decandria. 



' SAMBUCUS C NIGRA ) cymis quinquepartitis, caule arboreo. Lin. Sp. PI. S85.— 

 Common elder. It is of the class and order Pentandria Trigynia. 



