. A description and history of vegetable substances, used in the arts, and in domestic economy . s) does not appear to be somuch cultivated in England, as a timber tree, as itsmerits deserve. There are about thirty species of theCytisus, properly so called, but the common laburnumis the one which is most valuable. In England the laburnum is principally cultivatedas an ornamental shrub, and when in bloom its nume-rous and long branches of yellow flowers have a veryshewy appearance. Laburnum is, however, exceed-ingly useful as a tree; and wherever very hard andcompact timber is required in small
. A description and history of vegetable substances, used in the arts, and in domestic economy . s) does not appear to be somuch cultivated in England, as a timber tree, as itsmerits deserve. There are about thirty species of theCytisus, properly so called, but the common laburnumis the one which is most valuable. In England the laburnum is principally cultivatedas an ornamental shrub, and when in bloom its nume-rous and long branches of yellow flowers have a veryshewy appearance. Laburnum is, however, exceed-ingly useful as a tree; and wherever very hard andcompact timber is required in small pieces, there arefew superior to it. The Romans reckoned it next toebony; though it be not so hard, or so perfectly freefrom grain, it is much more tough and elastic. Itsnatural colour, too, is good, and it may be renderedalmost black by the application of lime water. It isalso a very hardy tree, and will grow in almost anysoil; but hares and rabbits, which abound in manyparts of England, and are preserved to the destruc-tion, not merely of trees, but of the grain crops of THE LABURNUM. 133. <J^ Lahitrnum—Ci/tisus. the farmer, spoil the young laburnums by gnawingthe bark, in winter. Even of the small size to which it is permitted togrow, laburnum is used for many purposes,—aswedges, pulleys, pegs, the handles of knives, andother instruments. When of larger dimensions, no timber is fitter forcabinet work of all kinds. It takes a fine polish, itlooks well, and it is durable. Chairs made of it arefar stronger than any mahogany. It may, how-ever, be doubted whether laburnum holds glue aswell, because it contains an oil, which never driesout; and it is harder to work than mahogany. Thisoily property fits it well for pins of blocks, and cogsin mill-work, as its unctuous nature prevents it from N 134 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. being abraded. Many of the purposes for which itwas once used are now suppHed by Hgnumvita?,which is a harder wood, and still more unctuous;but lignumvitae i
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