1S4 BULLKTIX 145 



flowers are somewhat fragrant, white and rather small, but are 

 borne in large showy masses. These, appearing in the earlier 

 species in late spring and in the others in early summer, are 

 followed in turn by the ample and richly colored fruit clusters, 

 the one in midsummer and the other in autumn. These charac- 

 teristics combine to make the elders surpass all other native 

 shrubs in giving large and pleasing color eflfects to our way- 

 sides. The two elders are distinguished as follows : 

 Flowers in broad flat clusters in June, fruit dark purple, pith white. 



Common elder. 

 Flower clusters pyramidal in May, fruit red, pith brown. 



Red-berried elder. 



COMMON ELDKR. Suiiibiiciis canadensis L. 



The common elder is a shrub usually five to ten feet high, 

 which is fond of rich moist soil and plenty of sunlight, thriving in 

 wayside thickets where its quick-growing stems soon overtop 

 the blackberries and vie with the dogwoods. The ample flower 

 clusters open in June and July, just when most needed to add 

 color to the waysides ; the black-purple berries ripen in Septem- 

 ber. An English botanist, Smith, says that the "uncertain sum- 

 mer is established when the elder is in full flower and is entirely 

 gone when its berries are ripe." The elder has been made use- 

 ful in various ways. Emerson summarizes these as follows : 

 "An infusion of the juice of the berries is a delicate test for acids 

 and alkalies ; an infusion of the bruised leaves is used by garden- 

 ers to expel insects from vines ; a wholesome sudorific tea is 

 made from the flowers ; the unopened flower buds when pickled 

 make an excellent substitute for capers ; the abundant pith is the 

 best substance for the pith balls used in electrical experiments ; 

 and the hollow shoots are in great use with boys for popguns 

 and fifes." To this of course must be added the use of the ripe 

 berries, much more common formerly than now. for elderberry 

 wine. Thev were even made into pies, but there is no need of 

 such usage to-day in view of the abundance of better fruit. 



