Harvesting the Hedges 
deserves the Regard of Men, this does, for its many Galenical 
salubrious Uses ; and particularly (if Report is true) for its 
being a very good Drink in an Asthma. And as the red 
sort is now become so common as to be sold in its juice 
at the London Markets, I do not doubt but this, in a little 
time, will also become more universal, and be entertained 
as a most delicate, wholesome pleasant Liquor at the greatest 
Tables, even to supplant in some Measure the excessive 
use of Tartareous Wines.” Alas, for Mr. Ellis’ sanguine 
prediction, the making of Elder-wine would seem to have 
died out. Elder-vinegar, made with 12 parts vinegar to 1 
part dried flowers, and mixed with honey and water, is 
said to be a good gargle for sore-throats. It has to be 
macerated for a few days, clarified with milk and filtered. 
The popularity of the Elder in England as a useful old- 
wives medicine would surely seem to have come down to 
us from our Danish forebears, since in Denmark to this day 
Elder-tea, an infusion of the flowers in hot water, is used in 
cases of chill, called Flieder Thee , as in Hans Andersen’s 
pretty story of “The Elder-tree Mother.” The Elder 
was called Holunder baum in Germany, because it was 
sacred to Holda, the Goddess of Love ; it was also deemed 
sovereign against witches. This belief also prevailed in 
Norway and Denmark. In Germany, after early night 
frosts have sweetened the berries, a spirit is distilled from 
them. Linen can be, it is said, dyed brown with Elder- 
berry juice. Birds are fond of the berries and take their 
tithe of this highway harvest, but I believe they are reckoned 
poison for chickens. Danewort or Danesblood was a 
North-country name for the Dwarf Elder, called Zwerg 
Elder in Germany ; and there was a widespread belief that 
wherever Danes had been slain it sprang up from their 
blood ; something like the Poppies, which, so the story 
goes,, grew on the field of Waterloo from the blood of the 
English redcoats slain. In Russia a branch of Elder is 
said to keep off evil spirits. In France, a layer of the 
flowers among Apples is said to give the fruit a pleasant 
savour, A tea or tisane is made of dried Elder-flowers and 
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