194. _SPANISH BROOM, or SPART_ (Spartium junceum), _is a well-known ornamental flowering shrub in our gardens, which has opposite, round branches, that flower at the top, and spear-shaped leaves._
In the province of Valencia, and other parts of Spain, great attention is paid to this manufacture of various articles from the _twigs_ and _bark_ of this shrub. They are plaited into mats, carpets, coverings for plants, baskets, ropes, and even shoes. A great portion of these twigs was formerly exported to different French ports in the Mediterranean, particularly to Marseilles; but, in 1783, on account of the employment of which it deprived the Spanish people in working them, their exportation was prohibited by the government.
195. _FURZE, GORZE, or WHIN_ (Ulex Europæus), _is a well-known thorny shrub, which is common on heaths and waste ground in almost every part of England._
The chief use to which furze is applied, is for the heating of ovens; and, in this respect, it is valuable, from its burning rapidly, and emitting a great degree of heat. Its _ashes_ are used for a ley, which is of considerable service in the washing of linen.
In some parts of the country, furze is sown on banks, round fields, for the purpose of a fence; and it will flourish even close to the sea side, where the spray of the sea destroys almost every other shrub. But it will not bear severe cold, and it is often destroyed by intense frost. Furze does not often occur in the northern parts of our island.
Horses, sheep, and cattle may be fed on this shrub; and, in several places, the seeds of it are sown, either by themselves, or with barley, oats, or buck-wheat (126). The plants are mown a year afterwards. They will grow for several years, and produce from ten to fifteen tons per acre of food, which is equal, in quality and excellence, to the same quantity of hay. They are bruised before they are eaten, either in a machine, or by heavy mallets on blocks of wood. This operation is requisite, in order to break the prickles, and prevent these from being injurious to the mouths of the animals that eat them.
196. _COWHAGE, or COW-ITCH, is a sharp and barbed kind of down or hair, which thickly clothes the pods of a bean-like climbing plant_ (Dolichos pruriens, Fig. 53), _that grows in the West Indies, and other countries of warm climates._