Yellow furze on the heath: Country diary 100 years ago

Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 9 December 1916Surrey, December 7
Cattle coming back slowly to the homestead in the mist of early afternoon pause to browse among the clumps of furze which stud the heath all over the top of the down. These furze bushes are well out in yellow bloom; it makes almost the only charm of colour left us here. The younger cows, nosing about, tear off the budding shoots, taking little account of the prickly stems, which are not very stiff as yet. Cattle