ELDERBERRY. 259 
wine at your breakfast to loosen the belly ” (1760). In Germany 
the Elder tree is regarded with great respect. ‘From its leaves a 
fever-drink is made; from its berries a sour preserve, and a 
wonder-working electuary ; whilst the moon-shaped clusters of 
its aromatic flowers are narcotic, and are used in baking small 
cakes.” Our English summer is not here until the Elder is fully 
in flower, and it ends when the berries are ripe. Douglas Jerrold, 
once at a well-known tavern, ordered a bottle of Port Wine, 
** which should be old, but not Elder.” 
As a recipe for making Elderberry Wine: “ Strip the berries 
(which must be quite ripe) into a dry jar, and pour two gallons 
of boiling water over three gallons of the berries, cover, and leave 
in a warm place for twenty-four hours ; then strain, pressing the 
juice well out. Measure it, and allow three pounds of sugar, half 
an ounce of ginger, and a quarter of an ounce of cloves to each 
gallon. Boil slowly for twenty minutes: then strain it into a 
cask, and ferment it whilst lukewarm. Let it remain until it 
has become still before bunging, and bottle it in six months. If 
a weaker wine is preferred, use four gallons of water to the above 
quantity of berries, and leave for two days before straining. 
Some stone jars will serve the purpose instead of a cask. Or, in 
another way, to every three gallons of water allow one peck of 
Elderberries ; to every gallon of juice allow three pounds of sugar, 
half an ounce of ground ginger, six cloves, one pound of good 
Turkey raisins ; and a quarter of a pint of brandy to every gallon 
of wine. Then for working the wine, add three or four table- 
spoonfuls of fresh yeast from the brewery to every nine gallons of 
the wine.” Elderberry juice contains a considerable proportion 
of the principle necessary for a vigorous fermentation, but it is 
deficient in sweetness. 
German writers declare that the Elder contains within itself 
an entire magazine of physic, and a complete chest of homely 
medicaments. Likewise John Evelyn (Sylva, 1664), has written 
concerning the Elder: “ If the medicinal properties of its leaves, 
bark, and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our 
countrymen could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy 
from every hedge, either for sickness, or wounds.” And again, 
‘* the buds boiled in water-gruel have effected wonders ina fever; 
the spring buds are excellently wholesome in pottage; and 
small ale in which Elder flowers have been infused is esteemed 
by many so salubrious that this is to be had in most of the 
