MANNA. 147 



they were acquainted with manna, which substance is found 

 in that state. 



MRS. F. 



But the ancients, though they found manna, yet were unac- 

 quainted with its real nature; for, being accustomed to find it 

 upon different kinds of trees, they inferred that it was a sub- 

 stance wholly foreign to the tree itself, an error very easily 

 embraced by those who were not aware that the nutritive 

 juices of trees are nearly, if not wholly the same. 



HENRIETTA. 



Then, what is manna, aunt? for I must confess that I do 

 not know much about it. 



MRS. F. 



The manna of commerce is chiefly furnished by the flow- 

 ering Ash (Fraxinus Ornus,} but several other species* of the 

 Ash are also employed. 



HENRIETTA. 



From what country does it come? 



MRS. F. 



The Flowering Ash grows abundantly in Calabria, in 

 Sicily, and upon the highest and most rocky mountains of 

 Greece, but it is from Calabria that we chiefly derive manna. 

 In the months of July and August, a po'rtion of the bark is 

 taken off, about three inches long and two inches wide, and 

 an incision is made in the tree; the manna which runs out is 

 collected in baskets, and goes by the name of manna grossa, 

 but, when it is required very fine, thin straws or bits of 

 shrubs are applied to the incision, so that the manna in run- 

 ning out, runs upon these substances, and is collected in 

 regular tubes, which are termed by the Calabrians manna in 

 cannoli. 



i 



* F. rolundifolia, excelsior, and parviflora. The larch, fir, orange, 

 walnut, willow, mulberry, and oak, also produce manna. 



