28 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



Asparagus is always three years at least, from the time of sowing 

 the seed, before the plants obtain strength enough to produce shoots 

 of due size for the table ; that is, one year in the seed-bed, and two 

 after being transplanted, though it is sometimes three or four years 

 after planting before they produce good full-sized shoots. But the 

 same bed or plantation will continue producing good asparagus ten or 

 twelve years, and even endure fifteen or twenty years. However, at 

 that age the shoots are generally small, and the whole annual pro- 

 duce inconsiderable. 



Asparagus offers a striking instance of the effect produced on 

 plants by cultivation. In some parts of Europe it is found growing 

 wild on the sea shore, its stem not thicker than a goose quill, and 

 only a few inches in height. The cultivated plant is sometimes 

 found three-fourths of an inch in diameter, and grows to six feet in 

 height. In the neighborhood of cities or villages asparagus is culti- 

 vated as a source of great profit ; and it should find a place in every 

 kitchen-garden. In the year 1850 and 1851 the asparagus sold from 

 the farm of D. D. T. More, near Albany, N. Y., yielded over one 

 hundred and forty- two dollars. 



ASS. This is an animal of the equine genius. It has long slouch- 

 ing ears, a short mane, and a tail covered with long hairs to the end. 

 It is usually of the ash color, is extremely hardy, and is easily kept. 

 It is a native of Arabia, Persia, and the central parts of Asia and 

 Africa. Like the horse, when wild, it goes in large troops, and dis- 

 plays great natural sagacity, activity, and courage. Jennets, or she- 

 asses, are used among us principally for breeding jacks, or the males 

 of the species, and the latter are for the breeding of mules, the hybrid 

 product of the ass and the mare. The ass is but little used for labor 

 in this country, and they are not numerous. 



ASSIMILATION. This is a term, in animal and vegetable 

 economy, to denote that hidden, natural process, by which living 

 animals and plants are enabled to convert such bodies as have a cer- 

 tain affinity for them, or at least after having undergone some pre- 

 paration and change of properties, into their own substance and 

 nature. 



ASTRINGENT. This is a medicinal substance which binds or 

 contracts the parts of the body to which it is applied, restrains profuse 

 discharges, coagulates animal fluids, and condenses and strengthens 

 the solids. 



ATMOSPHERIC AIR. The atmosphere, which was formerly 

 supposed to be a simple fluid, is composed of two distinct substances, 

 termed oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. It is not a chemical compound, 

 but a mere mixture of those gaseous substances, in the proportion of 

 21 of the former and 79 of the latter. It contains also about one 

 part in every thousand of carbonic acid gas, a considerable portion of 

 water in a state of elastic vapor, and several adventitious substances. 



