268 



that's it ; 



bear green, red, and black 

 berries. It is said that these 

 trees, by a peculiar smell which 



13 



679. 



they emit, protect grain, fruit 

 trees, and edible vegetables, by 

 driving away insects, to which 

 the odour is noxious.* 



14 



680. 



The privet, 14, is a myrtle- 



* There are numerous receipts for the manufacture 

 of elderberry wine, elrier flower ointment. «-Irier flower 

 vme^Hr, elder flower water, und elder flower wine, in 

 " Inquire Within. *» 



like shrub, with lanceolate leaves, 

 white flowers, and purple-black 

 berries, 15. The berries remain 

 on the tree during the winter, 

 in elegant, erect, grape-like clus- 

 ters, and are not eaten by birds, 

 except in very severe weather, 

 when bullfinches and some others 

 eat them. The wood is useful 

 in the hands of the turner ; and 

 a rose-coloured dye is made from 

 the berries. The caterpillars of 

 the privet hawk moth feed upon 

 the leaves, and that curious in- 

 sect, the blister beetle, from which/ 

 the blistering powders used in 

 medicine are made, is among 

 its inhabitants. 



16 



681. 



The holly, 16, is interesting, 

 not only on account of its asso- 

 ciation with our Christmas fes- 

 tivities, as the companion of the 

 mistletoe, 623, but for its pecu- 

 liarities as an example of an 



