THE ELDER. 323 



some place." Sir James Smith says that an infusion of 

 the leaves proves fatal to the various insects which thrive 

 on blighted or delicate plants; nor do many of this tribe 

 in the caterpillar state feed on them. Cattle scarcely 

 touch them, and the mole is driven away by their scent. 

 Carters often place them on their horses' heads to keep off 

 flies. The flowers are white, and grow at the extremities 

 of the shoots, in the flat clusters which botanists call 

 cymes. The berries are globular, black, and of a faint 

 sickly taste, which no doubt often protects them from de- 

 predation. This flavour they lose when boiled and made 

 into wine ; they are said to form one of the (least injurious) 

 ingredients of fictitious port-wine. The wood of the old 

 branches is yellow, very hard and compact, and is used for 

 making skewers and shoemakers' pegs. The bark, which 

 on the old branches becomes rugged, is used in Scotland as 

 a dye. It is there called the Arn-tree. 



Miss Kent observes that the Elder is sometimes coupled 

 with the Cypress and other trees considered to be emble- 

 matical of death or sorrow. 



' ' The water-nyinphs, that wont with her to sing and dance, 



And for her girlond olive-branches bear, 

 Now baleful boughs of cypress done advance : 

 The muses, that were wont green bays to wear, 

 Now bringen bitter Elder branches sere : 

 The fatal sisters eke repent 

 Her vital thread so soon was spent. 



heavy herse ! 

 Mourn now, my muse, now mourn with heavy cheer : 



careful verse ! " SPENSER. 



This notion may have originated in the tradition that 

 Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an Elder-tree. 



The Elder prefers a damp situation, but will grow any- 

 where, bearing exposure to the sea-breeze without receiving 

 any injury. 



" The great esteem," says Borlase, " in which the 

 ancient Cornish held the Elder (or Sambucus) is very 



