A S II 



ASP 



germ the length of the petals. T'nc germ oh- 

 long, sharp, ami compressed: the 51 vies two, virv 

 short : stigmas blunt : the capsule is compressed, 

 being ccivircd v. ith the shrivelled calvx. It is a 

 native ot South Carolina. 



The second species grows about three feet 

 high. The flowers are produced at the ends of 

 the stalks, and are of the same shape and colour 

 with common St. John's-wort. It grows na- 

 luraiiv m \ irguua. 



Culture. — The best method with the hrsi ^rr! 

 is to propagate it bv cuttings made from the 

 young shoots in May, as it rarely produces seeds 

 m this climate. These should be planted in 

 pots of good earth, and plunged into a moderate 

 hot-bed, till thcv have stricken root, and the 

 plants are become strong, when they may be 

 transplanted into the situations where thev are 

 to remain, in the borders or other parts. A warm 

 aspect should alwavs be chosen for the purpose, 

 and the roots must be protected, especially in 

 severe winters, by being covered with tan, litter,or 

 other similar substances. This sort may likewise 

 be raised by layers put down in auiunm. 



The second kind mav be increased by parting 

 the roots in the autunm after the stems are de- 

 cayed, planting them in situations where the 

 soil is of a loamv quality. These after some 

 time often produce seed. They should con- 

 stantly be guarded from the action of frosts in 

 the winter season. 



These two species are useful in affording va- 

 riety in extensive pleasure-grounds. 



ASH Common. See Fraxinus. 



Ash Flowering. See Fraxinus. 



Ash Manna. See Fraxinus. 



Ash Mountain. See Sorbus. 



Ash Poison. See Rhus. 



ASHES, the particles of different ligneous 

 and other substances which remain after the 

 process of combustion. Thev are of different 

 kinds; but those mostly employed in garden 

 culture are wood, twf, coal, and peal ashes. 

 Their effects on the soil vary in some measure 

 according to the kinds. Such as contain saline 

 matter in anv proportion not only afford im- 

 provement on thestifferand more tenacious sorts 

 of ground, bv rendering them more friable and 

 mellow, but by their acuon upon them bringing 

 them into a more fit condition lor supplying 

 tlie nourishment of plants. Mr. Nicol found 

 where the ashes of green furze had been 

 thickly spread on the surface, and afterwards 

 dug into the earth, that when ihey had remained 

 some tmie in that state of union, they produced 

 the most beneficial etfeets in promoting the 

 growth of different sons of trees. In this view, 

 therefore, the use of wood and turf ashes may 

 6 



be of much advanLigc :;> bringinc such new 

 garden -grounds as are of a stiff adhesive qi: •!:!•.' 

 mto a condition proper for the growth of difle'- 

 reiit kinds of vegetable crops. And where ilie 

 grounds are too much inclined to moisture, thiv 

 may he of great utility by the power whiefi 

 they possess of taking up the super.ibundaiit 

 proportion of wetness. And it is not improbable 

 but they may likewise contribute in the \\j,y of 

 aflording the food of plants. 



Coil-ashes, prob.ibiy from their eontainiii" 

 a portion of calr^rr*'"" muucr, are alio found to 

 be highly beneficial on stiff and retentiv; ear- 

 den-grounds, in rendering them more open and 

 porous. In this view they are successfully used 

 in the neighbourhood of many great cities where 

 coal is much burnt for fuel. Thev also open 

 the texture of clayey grounds, and correct their 

 tenacity and other bad qualities. The eardencrs 

 about London know their value, and make a 

 very profitable use of them, particularly in brintr- 

 ing into order those grounds which have been 

 dug up for brick earth. And it is probable that 

 peat-ashes may be made use of in the same in- 

 tention with great benefit, as they have the pro- 

 property of lesseniiiii the adhesion of such soils. 



The proportions in which manures of these 

 kinds may be employed must depend in a great 

 degree on the state of the grounds ; but too 

 sparing quantities can seldom be advantageous, 

 where tlie principal obji.ct is that of rendering 

 them more light and open. In the application 

 of the two first sorts, care shouldbe taken to pre- 

 serve them for the purpose in covered sheds, and 

 to have them laid on when the weather is inclined 

 to be moist without beinir too wet. 



ASP or ASPEN-TUEE. See Populus. 



ASPALATHUS, a genus containinsr plants 

 of the ornamental shrubby exotic kinll. The 

 African Broom. 



It belongs to the class and order Diadtiphia 

 Decandria, and ranks in the natural order of 

 PapilionacecB. 



The characters of which are : that the calyx is a 

 one-leafed, five-cleft perianthium: the divisions 

 acuminate, equal, except that the upper part is 

 larger. The corolla is papilionaceous : the ban- 

 ner compressed, ascending, obovate, generally 

 hirsute on the outside, obtuse with a point : 

 wings lunulate, obtuse, spreading, shorter 

 than the banner : keel bifid, conformable w ith 

 the wings. The stamina consist of ten fila- 

 ments, united into a sheath gaping longitudi- 

 nally at top, and ascending. The antHcrs are 

 obltintr. The pistillum is an ovate trerm. The 

 style simple and ascending. The stigma sliarp. 

 Tlie pericarpium is an ovate av. nicss legume. 

 The seeds arc generally two, and kidney- shaped. 



