MARIGOLD OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 267 



cooking it in various ways, and mating it into bread. He 

 further states that it is blown about by the wind, and collects 

 in heaps. Being of a soft starchy nature, it can readily be 

 imagined that it would soon ferment and putrefy. 



These accounts seem to leave no doubt that one or more 

 species of crustaceous edible lichens grow on sterile plains and 

 mountains, and are occasionally carried by winds to distant 

 localities; that the latter circumstance seems to be uncertain 

 and erratic ; and also that these lichens do not agree with the 

 text which says, " When the sun waxed hot, it [the manna] 

 melted," which being the case with the Tamarix Manna leads 

 us to presume that it and Lichen Mannas are included in Moses' 

 description of Manna. 



Maple, Common (Acer eam^estre), a tree of the natural 

 order Sapindace^s, native of this country. It is valued for its 

 wood, which is first white, and by age becomes yellow or brown. 

 It is compact and firm, but not hard, of a fine grain, and is em- 

 ployed for turnery, ornamental work, and wood - carving, and 

 was once in great repute for culinary vessels, as bowls, plates, 

 spoons, etc. 



Maple, Sugar (A, saccliannum), a moderate-sized tree, 

 native of North America, in Canada forming extensive forests. 

 It is of great importance for its juice, which is obtained in early 

 spring by tapping, and is afterwards converted into sugar. A 

 tree will yield from two to four pounds yearly, and will continue 

 to do so for forty years without suffering injury. It is chiefly 

 made by the Indians, and is in general use in [N'orth America, 

 and is considered equal to cane sugar. 



Marble -wood, Andaman (Dios^p^jros Kurzii), a tree of the 

 Ebony family (Ebenaceae), native of the Andaman Islands and 

 British Burmah, attaining a height of 50 to 00 feet ; its wood 

 is greyish, interlaid with black, and called Marble -wood. It 

 takes a fine polish, and is used for cabinet-work in the country 

 of its growth. 



Marigold (Calendula officinalis), a pretty yellow flowering 

 anmial of the Composite family (Compositse), native of South 



