XLVI. 
THE ELDER TREE, 
THE ELDER TREE (Sambucus) belongs to the natural order 
Caprifoliacee, and to Pentandria trigynia of the Linnean 
system. It comprehends several species, intermediate between 
shrubs and low trees, deciduous and hardy, some of which are 
found indigenous to every quarter of the world. All the 
kinds are readily grown from slips or cuttings, and generally 
they are remarkable for their rapidity of growth previously to 
their yielding berries. 
S. nigra (L.), the common black-berried elder, or bourtree, 
is a native of Europe, the north of Africa, and the colder 
parts of Asia. In Britain it usually attains the height of 
about twenty feet; but in rich sheltered situations, when 
associated with other trees, it frequently rises much higher. 
In open sunny situations it yields a profusion of creamy-white 
blossoms, which in June have a conspicuous appearance ; they 
are produced on widespread terminal cymes, and are generally 
succeeded by a heavy crop of black berries, which become ripe 
by the first of winter. The tree is frequently met with in the 
neighbourhood of houses and gardens, and is seldom observable 
in more remote and unfrequented spots; yet it is by no 
means a desirable object. Its blossoms and foliage when 
grown extensively emit a faintish sickening odour, which is 
believed to be unwholesome, and during hot weather is said 
to produce narcotic stupor in those who sleep under its shade. 
Evelyn mentions a tradition of a certain family in Spain who 
became enervated and died in consequence of their house being 
seated among elder trees, and he adds, that when at last the 
trees were rooted out it became a healthy abode. Although 
