SMALLER BERRIES. 275 



a. Elder-berry. 6. Cloud-berry. c. Bramble-berry, d. Biller,-y. 



peculiarly attractive to insects; and thus the barberry 

 may become injurious to neighbouring plants. The 

 berries grow in bunches, and are so very acid, that 

 they are seldom eaten, but with the requisite quan- 

 tity of sugar they make an excellent jelly. 



THE ELDER Sambucus. 



The elder is a native of this country; is very gene- 

 rally diffused; grows with singular rapidity, though 

 it never arrives at great size; and endures the most 

 bleak situations, though in the northern parts of 

 Scotland the fruit seldom ripens. The berries of the 

 elder are fermented into a wine, which when spiced 

 and drunk warm, is a pleasing winter beverage. They 

 arc supposed to contain a portion of the narcotic 

 principle. The black variety is chiefly cultivated 

 ibr this purpose; but the berries of the yellow and 

 green are also applicable to wine making. There is 

 also an elder flower wine, with a flavour resembling 

 Frontignac. 



The elder-tree furnishes the unscientific prac- 

 titioner of the healing art with many of the most 



