268 



THE ELDER. 



This notion may have originated in the tra- 

 dition, that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an 

 Elder-tree. 



The Elder prefers a damp situation, but will 

 grow anywhere, bearing exposure to the sea- 

 breeze without receiving any injury. 



The great esteem," saysBorlase, in which the 

 ancient Cornish held the Elder (or Sambucus) is 

 very remarkable. The Cornu-British words for it, 

 are scau, and scauaii, and hence we have many vil- 

 lages,* and two ancientf families denominated. It 

 may at first seem to be owing to the general scarcity 

 of trees, that even this humble shrub was thought 

 considerable enough to give name to so many 

 places ; but if we consider the great virtue of this 

 plant in all its several parts and stages, we shall 

 be convinced that few shrubs deserve a greater 

 regard. It is very hardy, enduring all weathers, 

 suiting all soils, easily propagated by seeds and 

 cuttings ; the medicinal use of its several parts is 

 extraordinary ; its leaves, buds, blossoms, berries, 

 pith, wood, and bark, have more virtues than can 

 possibly have room here, without entering into 

 too minute detail ; the following are most obvious 

 and most generally applied to for relief : — The buds 

 and leaves, as soon as they appear, are gathered 

 to make baths, fomentations, and cataplasms for 

 wounds, and are a remedy for inflammations, &c. 



* Boscaiian-ros, and Boscauancen, in St. Berian parish ; two 

 called by the name of Penscauan in St. Enodor. Enyscauan in St. 

 Denis ; Lescauan in Sheviock ; Fentonscauan, name of a water, in 

 St. Ives ; Trescau, , formerlv the most considerable village in the 

 Scilly Isles ; Trescau in Breg, &c. 



t That of the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Falmouth, called 

 Boscawen, and the Scawens of Molenik in St. Germans, and of 

 Carshalton in Surrey. 



