8* COMMON ELDER. 
shrub which has not been advantageously employed in 
some way or other. The wood is yellow, and, in old 
trees, becomes so hard that it will take a polish almost 
as bright as that of box (232) ; and, -indeed, it is often 
used as a substitute for box -wood. Its toughness also 
is such that it is made into skewers for butchers, tops 
for fishing rods, and needles for the weaving of nets. 
It is likewise employed by turners. 
Sir J. E. Smith has remarked that this tree is, as it 
were, a whole magazine of physic to rustic practitioners, 
and that it is not quite neglected even by professional 
men. Ointments have been made of the green inner 
bark, and of the leaves. The dried jloivers, infused in 
water, are used in fomentations, or as tea : and, mixed 
with butter-milk, they are sometimes employed as a 
wash for the face ; and the clusters of flowers, before 
they open, may be made into a delicious pickle, to eat 
with boiled mutton. The berries are boiled into a rob, 
which is useful in sore throats, colds, and hoarsenesses. 
In addition to their medicinal services, the leaves are 
rsometimes thrown into the subterraneous paths of moles, 
under an impression that their smell will drive away 
those noxious animals. If turnips, cabbages, fruit trees> 
or corn, all of which are subject to blight from various 
kinds of insects, be strongly whipped with the green 
leaves and branches of elder, insects will not attack 
them ; and an infusion of the leaves is sometimes 
sprinkled by gardeners over the buds of such flowers as 
they wish to preserve from the devastation of cater- 
pillars. Elder flowers have an agreeable flavour, which 
they impart, in distillation, to water : they are likewise 
used to give a flavour to vinegar. The berries are 
poisonous to poultry, but their juice, properly fer- 
mented, makes a pleasant and wholesome wine ; and, 
in Germany, a very pure and strong spirit is distilled 
from them. The juice of elder berries is sometimes 
employed to give a red colour to raisin or other sweet 
wine. The young shoots of this shrub are filled with an 
exceedingly light pith, which is cut into bails for elec- 
