60 A GARDEN OF HERBS 



all the witches and sorcerers in the neighbourhood. In the 

 Tyrol they trim an elder bush into the form of a cross, and 

 plant it on a newly made grave. If it blooms this is a 

 sign that the dead person's soul is in Paradise. Our English 

 peasantry had formerly a great veneration for elder, and 

 many still testify to its wonderful healing properties. If 

 you plant an elder in your herb garden, you must be sure to 

 stand under it at midnight on Midsummer Eve, and then 

 you will see the King of the Elves and all his train go by. 



TO TAKE AWAY THE FRECKLES IN THE FACE. Wash your 



face, in the wane of the Moone, with a sponge, morning and 

 evening, with the distilled water of Elder-leaves, letting the 

 same dry into the skinne. Your water must be distilled 

 in May. This from a Traveller, who hath cured himselfe 

 thereby. Sir Hugh Platt, Delights for Ladies, 1659. 



THE LADY THORNBURGH'S SYRUP OF ELDERS. Take 

 Elderberries when they are red, bruise them in a stone Mortar, 

 strain the juyce, and boyl it to a Consumption of almost 

 half, skum it very clear, take it off the fire whilest it is hot, 

 put in Sugar to the thickness of a Syrup ; put it no more 

 on the fire, when it is cold put it into glasses, not filling them 

 to the top, for it will work like Beer. The Queen's Closet 

 Opened, by W. M., Cook to Queen Henrietta Maria, 1655. 



To PICKLE ELDER BUDS. Put the Buds into Vinegar, 

 season'd with Salt, whole pepper, large mace, lemon-peel 

 cut small, let them have two or three walms over the Fire ; 

 then take them out and let the Buds and Pickle both cool, 

 then put the Buds into your Pot and cover them with the 

 Pickle. From The Receipt Book of John Nott, Cook to the 

 Duke of Bolt on, 1723. 



To PICKLE ELDER TOPS. Break the Tops of young 

 Sprouts of Elder, about the middle of April, six inches long, 

 let them have half a dozen walms in boiling Water, then 

 drain them ; make a pickle of wine water, salt, and bruised 

 pepper, put them into the Pickle, and stop them up close. 

 Ibid. 



