126 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
regular squares, hedged in with Cactus Opuntia. 
The trees are planted in rows, and are from two to 
eight inches in diameter, with stems from ten to 
twenty feet high, which from the first shoot are kept 
smooth and clean. The soil is carefully loosened 
and freed from weeds. After the eighth year the 
trees yield Manna, which they continue to do from 
ten to twelve years, when they are cut down, and 
young shoots from the roots trained ; one root- 
stalk frequently yields from six to eight new trees 
and more. For the production of the Manna, young 
and strong shoots are requisite ; but they are not 
tapped till the tree ceases to push forth any more 
leaves, and the sap consequently collects in the 
stem. This period is recognised by the cultivators 
from the appearance of the leaves ; sometimes it 
occurs earlier than at others, and the collection of 
Manna takes place either at the beginning of July 
or early in August. Close to the soil cross sections 
are made in the stem, and in the lowermost sections 
small leaves are inserted, which conduct the sap 
into a receptacle formed by a Cactus leaf : this is 
the way the Manna is obtained. The incisions are 
repeated daily in dry weather, and the longer it 
continues the more Manna is obtained. The 
stems are left uninjured on one side, so that the 
Manna runs down the smooth bark more easily. 
The next year the uninjured side is cut. After the 
Manna has been removed from the trees, it has 
further to be dried upon shelves before being packed 
in cases. — Hook. Jour. Bot., 124. 
Dorema Ammoniacum, or Gum Ammoniac Plant. 
The Ooshak, or Gum Ammoniac Plant, grows in 
great abundance over the arid plains in the vicinity 
of the town of Jezud Khast, on the borders of the 
provinces of Fars and Irak, a district appertaining 
to the government of Ispahan. The plant is peren- 
nial, and throws up from the roots a cluster of 
leaves, and one or more strong vigorous naked 
stems, of three or four feet in height, divided into 
joints of five or six inches long, throwing out various 
branches of equal length. The white juice which 
forms the gum pervades the whole plant, but exudes 
chiefly from the principal stems. — Major Willock 
in Lin. Trans, v. xvi., 606. 
Habrothamnus fasciculatus and corymbosus. 
These beautiful plants (the first of which we figured 
in our Magazine of Botany, v. xv., p. 193) certainly 
bear out fully the character we have given of them. 
In the winter garden of the Royal Botanical Society, 
Regent’s Park, we recently observed them in fine 
perfection, forming large bushes, literally covered 
with their gay-looking flowers. 
