ELDER. 315 



from a common centre; or in terminating cymes; and 

 very beautiful. Its fruit is a berry about the size of a 

 cranberry, of a bright red color, and very austere taste. 

 They are valuable for pies, tarts, preserves, &c. The 

 tree is propagated by layers, and suckers or seeds. 



In the valley of the Columbia River, a new species of 

 bush cranberry has been discovered, called Pambina. 



ELDER. (Samtrucus nigra.) 



A low, bushy tree, of an ornamental appearance ; its bark 

 is smooth and gray, becoming rough by age ; leaves pin- 

 nate; the flowers in terminating cymes ; the berries black 

 and abundant, of a sweet but not agreeable flavor ; the tree 

 and its leaves are narcotic. Noxious insects avoid it. 



USES. Although the berries are deemed poisonous to 

 poultry generally, yet they are employed in the manufacture 

 of an excellent, powerful and enlivening wine, remarkably 

 wholesome. But the wine of white elder berries is said to 

 resemble grape wine. A sirup and cordial are also pre- 

 pared from the berries ; and in Germany a very pure and 

 strong spirit is said to be distilled from the fruit. The 

 inner green bark is said to be an ingredient in black dye. 

 And Professor Martyn, according to Loudon, has stated 

 that the tree is a whole magazine of physic to rustic practi- 

 tioners ; nor is it quite neglected by more regular ones. 

 Fruit trees, plants, &c., whipped with the fresh branches, 

 are effectually secured from the depredations of noxious 

 insects. The wood of old trees is hard and fine-grained, 

 and takes a fine polish, and is used by turners as a substi- 

 tute for box wood. A new variety of sweet elder has been 

 discovered, which is peculiar to the Oregon region. 



