206 SYLVAN WINTER. 



that the hollow tubes formed by the branches 

 when their abnormally largecolumns of pith were 

 extracted, were manufactured into musical instru- 

 ments, and in proof of this assertion the generic 

 botanical name is instanced, Sambuca indicating 

 a musical instrument. Sambuca really means a 

 species of harp, but not impossibly the meaning 

 might have been made elastic to suit the use to 

 which those tubes were put. Sambuca also means 

 a machine for storming fortifications. The pro- 

 phet Joshua and his followers blew down the walls 

 of Jericho and stormed that city by means of blasts 

 sounded seven times upon rams' horns. Twisted 

 Elder tubes might have made almost as loud 

 sounds as the rams' horns, and Sambucus means 

 the Elder-tree. The pith of the Elder is used in 

 electrical experiments, and the wood not only 

 makes excellent charcoal for gunpowder, but, 

 when it has acquired age, it is as hard nearly as 

 Box. 



The wood of the Common Elm (Ulmus campes- 

 tris) has long had a great reputation for hardness 

 and durability. It has a fine grain, and is used 

 very much for the woodwork, of ships because it 



