THE ELDER. 



265 



ter, is most sovereign for aches, shrunk sinews, 

 &c., and the flowers macerated in vinegar not only 

 are of a grateful relish, but good to attenuate and 

 cut raw and gross humours. And less than this 

 could I not say (with the leave of the charitable 

 physician), to gratify our poor woodman." Some 

 of the above properties the Elder certainly does 

 possess, others perhaps are imaginary; neverthe- 

 less. Elder ointment. Elder-flower tea, and Elder- 

 berry wine are still popular medicines in the 

 country. 



The Elder is a rapidly growing tree while 

 young, and is remarkable for the stoutness of its 

 shoots, which when a year old are as large as those 

 of most other trees at two or three years of age. 

 They are covered with a smooth grey bark, and 

 contain an unusual proportion of pith, which is fre- 

 quently used in electrical experiments. This pith 

 being easily removed, young branches are often 

 made into popguns and other toys, and on this ac- 

 count the Elder is sometimes called the Bore-tree. 

 In ancient times they were made into flutes and 

 pipes ; hence the tree acquired the name Sambu- 

 cus, from samiuca, a kind of musical instrument.^' 

 The branches do not grow so rapidly after the 

 first year ; no new pith is formed, and that which 

 is formed already is compressed by the fresh layers 

 of wood, so that in old stems the quantity scarcely 

 exceeds the proportion usually found in other trees. 

 The leaves are pinnate, slightly notched, and of 

 a peculiarly strong and oflfensive odour, which is 

 said to be unwholesome. " I do by no means," 



* " Countrymen believe," says Pliny, (Book xvi. Chap, xxxvii.) 

 " that the most sonorous horns are made of Elder which has grown 

 where it never heard the cock crow." 



