THE ELDER. 



267 



learn from Biesiiis, that a certain house in Spain^ 

 seated among many Elder trees, diseased and 

 killed almost all the inhabitants, which, when at 

 last they were grubbed up, became a very healthy 

 and wholesome place." Sir James Smith says, 

 that an infusion of the leaves proves fatal to the 

 various insects which thrive on blighted or deli- 

 cate plants ; nor do many of this tribe in the 

 caterpillar state, feed on them. Cattle scarcely 

 touch them, and the mole is driven away by their 

 scent. Carters often place them on their horses' 

 heads to keep off flies. The flowers are white, 

 and grow at the extremities of the shoots, in the 

 flat clusters which botanists call cymes. The ber- 

 ries are globular, black, and of a faint sickly taste, 

 which no doubt often protects them from depre- 

 dation. This flavour they lose when boiled and 

 made into wine ; they are said to form one of the 

 (least injurious) ingredients of fictitious port wine. 

 The wood of the old branches is yellow, very hard 

 and compact, and is used for making skewers and 

 shoemakers' pegs. The bark, which on the old 

 branches becomes rugged, is used in Scotland as a 

 dye. It is there called the Arn-tree. 



Miss Kent observes, that the Elder is sometimes 

 coupled with the Cypress and other trees con- 

 sidered to be emblematical of death or sorrow : 



"The water-nymplis, that wont with her to sing and dance, 

 And for her girlond olive branches bear, 

 Now baleful boughs of cypress done advance : 

 The muses, that were wont green bays to wear, 

 Now bringen bitter Elder branches sere : 

 The fatal sisters eke repent 

 Her vital thread so soon was spent. 

 0 heavy herse ! 

 Mourn now, my muse, now mourn with heavy cheer : 



0 careful verse I" Spenser. 



