278 THE NURSERY. [MARC*. 



between the sheets at the edge, and projecting a little, so that they 

 may be taken up singly when wanted j the heaps are covered with 

 a plank of wood the size of the paper, upon which stones are put, 

 at first of a light weight, but afterwards heavier, that all the wet 

 may be pressed out by degrees. The following day, the weights 

 being removed, each sheet is taken up by itself, and the operation 

 is finished." 



The preceding is the process employed by the Japanese, and 

 whether we regard the expedition or labour, or the quantity and 

 quality of the product, it seems to admit of much improvement. 



Instead of reducing the subject toa/m//z, by battons, in the man- 

 ner above described, that might be done more effectually by grind- 

 ing it, in the way practised with rags. 



The colour might be rendered as elegantly white, as that of any 

 other substance, by means of an immersion, first in oxyginated mu- 

 riatic acid, afterwards in a solution of alkali, and finally, washing it 

 in pure water. By these means it is probable, that the portions 

 thrown aside for paper of inferior qualities, might be wrought into 

 that of prime excellence. 



The decoction of rice and of the root of Manihot, can have no 

 possible advantage over the size, commonly used, for giving to the 

 paper the necessary firmness and texture. 



The Calabrian or Manna Ash. 



There are two particular species of ash, from which that useful 

 drug called manna is collected in the kingdom of Naples, Sec. and 

 which, might be cultivated in the southern states, to advantage ; 

 therefore, I am induced to give some account of them. 



1. The Fraxinus Omits, or floAvering ash, which is the principal 

 kind cultivated for manna. The leaflets are ovate-oblong, serrate, 

 petioled ; flowers with petals. 



2. The Fraxinus rotundifolia, or round leaved ash, which also 

 produces it, but not in as great quantities as the former. Leaflets 

 roundish, acutish, doubly serrate, subsessile ; flowers with petals. 

 Both these kinds may be raised from seed as directed in page 264, or 

 by grafting or budding them on any other species of ash. They 

 are natives of Italy, Sicily, and the southern parts of Europe. 



They also cultivate in Sicily, the Fraxinus excelsior or common 

 European ash, for that purpose ; which induces me to think, that if 

 the above kinds were grafted /ow, on any of our American species, 

 it would not prevent their yielding as good rnanna, as if established 

 on their own roots. Doctor Cullen supposes " Manna to be a part 

 of the sugar so universally present in vegetables, and which exudes 

 on the surface of a great number of them." The qualities of these 

 exudations he thinks are " very little, if any, different." The 

 principal trees known to produce these mannas, in different climates 

 and seasons, are the larch, orange, walnut, willow, mulberry, and 

 some different kinds of oak ; which latter, are found growing be- 

 tween Merdin and Diarbecker ? and also in Persia near Khounsar. 



