The Elderberry Tree

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Elderberry Tree

“Tread quietly: O people, hush! For don’t you see • A spotted thrush. One thrush or two. Or even three On every laden elder-tree?” So if you happen to pass a spot where elderberries grow, remember the thrush or even the black-

bird. Don’t interrupt their banquet! They-will be celebrating the annual festival of the berries, feasting until the trees are bare. It would be a pity to disturb them The elder trees might be . quite difficult to find; it is only in uncultivated land that they are allowed to flourish. They seem to prefer the banks of a creek, but wUI apparently grow anywhere the seeds are dropped, and can become a pest. Years ago they used to be much more common than now and people regularly used the henries for making elderberry wine. -They can also be made into a syrupy, liquid called elder rob, which can be used as a drink to relieve sore throats and coughs. It is rather like black current jam .when made and has a pleasant This is the way to make elder rob; the berries are* washed and pulled from the stalks and then put into a saucepan with a little water to keep them from burning. They are cooked gently, the berries being crushed with a stirrer until all the juice is extracted. Then the liquid is strained away, and measured, and to every pint- of Imce one pound of sugar is added, and boiled together for 20 minutes, when a thick syrup is formed. This is to be bottled and kept until you have a cold. Then dissolve one tablespoon in half a pint of boiling water and drink it.

(By Winifred Chapman)

The clusters of white flowers which appear in the spring are also useful for making into an ointment, and a drink can be made by pouring boiling water on the leaves. It might, not be very pleasant to take, but few medicines are.

There is an. old belief that elder trees were protectors from the

visits of evil spirits, but we do not dwell on superstitions now. The trees are native to Britain, but are common in other countries, top. The old elder trees give us thick branches which are useful for rustic work in gardens and make picturesque summerhouses, fences, and seats. The branches are naturally very straight, and the bark accords well with the surroundings of a garden. The young branches are very soft and pithy. They are sometimes used by boys for making whistles or flutes or even pop-guns. After the birds have taken the berries, and “autumn lays its fiery finger on the leaves” with a mellowing touch, the, elder trees look rather beautiful until winter comes on and the leaves fall. They are among the first trees to show signs of returning spring, when the little rosy tufts of new leaves appear.