Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Broom

BROOM, the Common, or Spartium scoparium, L. an indigenous plant, very common on sandy pastures and heaths, and requiring no particular description. When growing of a large size, the broom deserves a place among our flowering shrubs, on account of the profusion of its gold-coloured blossoms. Its use is very extensive, not only in domestic economy, but likewise in the arts, and in medicine. Although this vegetable is chiefly employed for making brooms, thatching houses, and covering stacks in preference to straw, as it more readily admits the air into the stack, and equally well secures it from rain; yet it also serves as a substitute for the oak-bark, in the tanning of bather; for which purpose both the twigs and branches are usefully employed. The old wood of the common broom furnishes the cabinet-maker with most beautiful materials for veneering. In some places, the tender branches of this plant are mixed with hops in brewing; but we doubt whether they are wholesome, as it is affirmed that sheep become intoxicated by browsing upon them. The flower-buds may be preserved as pickles, and eaten instead or capers. From the roasted seeds, a kind of coffee has been made by the house-wife, though of inferior taste to that obtained from the roots of the carrot, beet, succory, &c.

The macerated bark of the broom has been found sufficiently fibrous and elastic, to be manufactured into cloth.—A tolerably pure alkaline salt is produced by burning the whole plant.

In proof of the medicinal properties of this vegetable, Dr. Mead relates the case of a dropsical person, who was recovered by taking half a pint of the decoction of green broom-tops, with a spoonful of whole mustard seed, every morning and evening. The patient had been tapped three times, and had tried the usual remedies to no purpose. Dr. Withering, on this occasion, observes, that an infusion of the seeds, drunk freely, has been known to produce similar happy effects; but whoever expects such benefit to follow in every dropsical case, wili be greatly deceived. He has known them succeed in one case that was truly deplorable; but out of a great number of trials fairly made, this proved to be the only instance, in which rhe medicine had a good effect. A strong lixivium of the ashes was used in the Swedish army, in the year 1750, for the cure of dropsies consequent to a catarrhal epidemic fever. The urine became plentiful, and the patients were soon restored.

Broom, the Spanish, or Spartium junceum, L. an exotic shrub, which may be easily cultivated in our climate, by sowing it either in the spring or autumn: but as the plants will not succeed when removed after attaining a large size, they should be transplanted before they are two years old.—The twigs are employed for basket-work, and the flowers afford a plentiful supply of food for bees: hence the culture of this shrub is recommended near bee-hives.