A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE ASPARAGUS PLANT. 273 



Composition of Asparagus Tops. 



Seven stalks, Aug. 16, 1912, weighed, green, 1,791 grams. Branches 

 were 60 per cent, and stems were 40 per cent, of total weight. 



Seven stalks, Oct. 23, 1912, weighed, green, 1,859 grams. Branches 

 were 64 per cent, and stems were 36 per cent, of total weight. 



Protein and sugar both disappear with ripening in about the same pro- 

 portion, and appear to be the only groups of constituents subjected to 

 translocation. The translocation of sugars as they are formed is indicated 

 by the higher percentages in the stalks than in the branches, both in 

 midsummer and in autumn. 



In November (the 4th), 1914, six tops were gathered which were golden 

 yellow in color but bare of needles. Dry matter, sugar and protein were 

 determined with the following results : — 



Dry matter, 



Sugar, 



Protein, 



Per Cent. 

 . 49.45 

 . 4.08 

 . 4.70 



It is probable that neither sugar nor protein is completely transferred 

 to the root, because until killed by frost the living cells must still contain 

 active protoplasm and its supply of food. 



The more extensive series of samples collected at Concord completely 

 corroborate these changes in kind, but respiration undoubtedly affected 

 the sugars. The average composition of the lots is given in the following 

 table : — 



