145 



An Elder growing on an Apple Tree. By Commander 

 Norman, R.N., Fellow Bot. Soc, Edin. 



(PLATE VI.) 



The experience of small seedlings growing in chinks of 

 the bark and on decayed places in trees is a common one, 

 so my third photograph — reproduced on Plate YI. — presents 

 nothing of particular botanical interest, yet the original can 

 hardly fail to arrest attention from even the most casual 

 passer-by. 



It represents a healthy, flourishing Apple, upon which 

 is growing a healthy, flourishing, flowering, and fruiting 

 Elder. 



To the non-botanical observer it might be necessary to 

 point out that in such a production there is nothing para- 

 sitical, the explanation being that an Elder berry has been 

 dropped by a bird on the surface of the decayed scar of 

 an old branch that has been removed, and has pushed its 

 roots down through the partially decayed hollow of the 

 trunk to the soil. I tapped the trunk to make sure that 

 it was hollow. 



I may add that the Elder first made its appearance about 

 four years ago, and, as it was getting very straggly, I 

 amused myself by pruning it for the tenant, Henry Wise, 

 Esq., of Silver Bill, Overbury, Worcestershire, so as to 

 ensure more compact and shapely growth. 



