THE ASH. 67 



them. This is the common manna of the shops, which 

 is thus collected in the form of tubes, and is called manna 

 in cannoli. Another, and inferior sort, is procured by 

 making an oblong incision in the trees in July or August, 

 and taking off a piece of the bark, about three inches in 

 length and two inches in breadth. This kind, which is 

 called manna-grass, is the coarsest ; but as it is produced 

 with less trouble, it is the cheapest. Sometimes, instead 

 of cutting out a piece of bark, and leaving the wound open, 

 two horizontal gashes are made, one a little above the 

 other, in the upper of which is inserted the stalk of a 

 maple leaf, the point of the leaf being inserted in the 

 lower gash, so as to form a sort of cup to receive the manna, 

 and to preserve it from dust and other impurities. The 

 greater part of the manna of commerce is procured in the 

 latter manner, and is imported in chests, in long pieces, or 

 granulated fragments of a whitish or pale yellow colour, 

 and in some degree transparent. The inferior kind is of 

 a dark brown colour, in adhesive masses, and is moist and 

 unctuous when felt. Manna from the Ash has a peculiar 

 odour, and a sweetish taste, accompained with a slight 

 degree of bitterness. " It was formerly used in medicine, 

 but is now chiefly used to disguise other drugs in adminis- 

 tering them to children." (Loudon). 



As a timber-tree the Ash is exceedingly valuable, not 

 only on account of the quickness of its growth, but for 

 the toughness and elasticity of its wood, in which latter 

 quality it surpasses every European tree. In its younger 

 stages (when it is called ground ash) it is much used for 

 walking-sticks, hoops, and hop-poles ; and it matures its 

 wood at so early an age, that an Ash-pole, three inches in 

 diameter, is as valuable and durable for any purpose to 

 which it can be applied, as the timber of the largest tree. 

 " The use of Ash is (next to that of the Oak itself) one of 

 the most universal. It serves the soldier 1 and heretofore 



1 Spears were anciently made of Myrtle, Cornel, and Hazel, but 

 Pliny prefers the Ash for that purpose. 



