THE ASH. 



147 



situations, and tlie sap runs from them sponta- 

 neously only during the greatest heats of summer. 

 It begins to ooze out about mid-day, in the 

 form of a clear liquid, which soon thickens, and 

 continues to appear until the cool of the evening ; 

 when it begins to harden into granules, which 

 are scraped off the following morning. When 

 the night has been damp or rainy, the manna 

 does not harden, but runs to the ground and is 

 lost. This kind is called manna in tears, or 

 manna lagrimi^ and is as white and pure as the 

 finest sugar. About the end of July, when the 

 liquid ceases to flow of itself, incisions are made 

 through the bark and soft wood ; and into these 

 incisions slender pieces of straw^, or twig, are 

 inserted, on which the manna runs, and coating 

 them over, hardens on them. This is the com- 

 mon manna of the shops, Vvdiich is thus collected 

 in the form of tubes, and is called manna in can- 

 noli. 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 low^er 

 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 



