LEGUMINOUS PLANS. 208

. They are weeds, or noxious plants, with respect
to us; but doubtless they have their uses in the crea-
tion. There is a kind of tares, however, which, when
grown by themselves, are excellent food for éattle.
Some of our papilionaceous plants are able enough to
shift for themselves; for gorse or furze is of the
number,

G. What, that prickly bush all covered over with
yellow flowers, that overruns our common ?

Z. Yes. Then there is broom, a plant as big, but
without thorns, and with larger flowers. This is as
frequent as furze in some places. |

H. I know it grows in abundance in the Broom-
field.

Z. lt does; but the naming of fields and places
from it is a proof that it is not so common as the
other.

G. We haye some bushes of white broom in the
shrubbery, and some trees of Spanish broom.

Z. True. You have also a small tree which flowers
early, and bears a great many pendent branches ot
yellow blossoms, that look peculiarly beautiful when
intermixed with the purple lilacs.

ff, I know 1t—laburnum.

Z. Right. That is one of our class of plants, too.
Then there is a large tree, with delicate little leaves,
protected by long thorns, and bearing bunches of
white papilionaceous flowers.

G. 1 know which you mean, but I cannot tell the
name,

7. itis the bastard acacia, or locust-tree, a native ot
America. Thus, you see, we have traced this class of
plants through all sizes, from the trefoil that covers
the turf, to a large tree. I should not, however,
forget two others,—the liquorice, and the tamarind.
The lquorice, with the sweet root of which you are
well acquainted, grows in the warmer countries, espe-
cially Spain, but is cultivated in England, The tama.
rind is a larger spreading tree, growmg in the West