28 FIRST FRUITS OF THE LAND. 



The Oregon elder (Sambucus glauca) is a unique tree 

 of unsurpassed elegance and rare beauty on the lawn or 

 in the forest; is of vigorous growth, attaining two feet in 

 diameter and thirty feet in height, with a beautifully cut 

 leaf of rich bluish green, decked with showy sprays of 

 creamy white flowers six to ten inches across, and in the 

 fall of the year gorgeously arrayed and heavily laden with 

 purple berries, interspersed with green fruit and blossoms, 

 which continue to bud and bloom from June to September, 

 giving a succession of flowers, green fruit, and ripe purple 

 berries the entire season. Tfye berry has a pleasant sub- 

 acid taste, and with a little sugar is palatable in pies, 

 stewed, or in preserves, and properly prepared makes an 

 excellent wine, for which it is now often used. Another 

 variety of smaller growth (Sambucus pubens) has a red 

 berr}r. also edible. This variety is not so widely distrib- 

 uted, and is only found along the coast and up the streams 

 inland. 



The grape (Vitis Californica) is found in the southern 

 part of the State, and has been much used in other coun- 

 tries as a phyloxera resistent stock, on which to work 

 European varieties. This fruit is something like the fox 

 grape of the East, and has been some improved by selection 

 and cultivation, and will doubtless be of value in the future. 



Oregon is a land rich in native berries, which were held 

 in great esteem by the Indians and early settlers, some of 

 which are really fine and yet much sought after and util- 

 ized, and form a considerable commerce in our towns and 

 cities. 



The wild blackberry (Rubus ursinus) is very abundant 

 everywhere, and takes possession of neglected fields, fence 

 rows and burned districts. The fruit is of good size, 

 oblong, very sweet and juicy, and believed by the children 

 and good housewife to be for all purposes much superior 

 to the cultivated varieties. Tons of this fruit are gathered 



