PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
87 
Dr. Martin Blockwich by C. de Iryngio ” (/. e. Christ. Irvine), 
a book that, in its Latin and English form, went through 
several editions. And this favourable estimate of the tree is 
still very common in several parts of the Continent. In the 
South of Germany it is believed to drive away evil spirits, and 
the name “ £ Holderstock ’ (Elder Stock) is a term of endear¬ 
ment given by a lover to his beloved, and is connected with 
Hulda, the old goddess of love, to whom the Elder tree was 
considered sacred.” In Denmark and Norway it is held in 
like esteem, and in the Tyrol an “ Elder bush, trained into the 
form of a cross, is planted on the new-made grave, and if it 
blossoms the soul of the person lying beneath it is happy.” 
And this use of the Elder for funeral purposes was, perhaps, 
also an old English custom; for Spenser, speaking of Death, 
says— 
“ The Muses that were wont greene Baies to weare, 
Now bringen bittre Eldre braunches seare.” 
Shepherd's Calendar — November. 
Nor must we pass by the high value that was placed on the 
wood both by the Jews and Greeks. It was the wood chiefly 
used for musical instruments, so that the name Sambuke was 
applied to several very different instruments, from the fact 
that they were all made of Elder wood. The “ sackbut,” 
“ dulcimer,” and “ pipe ” of Daniel iii. are all connected 
together in this manner. 
As a garden plant the common Elder is not admissible, 
though it forms a striking ornament in the wild hedgerows 
and copses, while its flowers yield the highly perfumed Elder- 
flower water, and its fruits give the Elder wine; but the tree 
runs into many varieties, several of which are very ornamental, 
the leaves being often very finely divided and jagged, and 
variegated both with golden and silver blotches. There is a 
handsome species from Canada (Samubucus Canadensis ), which 
is worth growing in shrubberies, as it produces its pure white 
flowers in autumn. 
