A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE ASPARAGUS PLANT. 269 



Composition of Asparagus Roots. 



Note. —The analytical methods employed throughout this work were those of the Association 

 of OfiBcial Agricultural Chemists in all essentials. 



The comparison shown by the table is of great interest. As the roots 

 increased in size from 1908 to 1910 there was not a marked change in all 

 constituents. The slight increase in ash may have been due to increased 

 absorption and storage, and in part caused by the impossibility of thor- 

 oughly removing the adhering soil in washing the roots. The nitrogen 

 percentage was practically unchanged, showing that the roots demanded 

 and received that element as fast as new growth developed. There was 

 a change in the relative proportions of the non-nitrogenous materials. 

 In the soluble and active form the sugar was much less in the older roots, 

 while the different inactive forms had aU increased (fiber, pentosans, 

 lignin and fat). There was a small change in the porportion of protein 

 and amino nitrogen, which may have been a seasonal difference. 



The sixteen random roots selected in 1911 from four plots, as already 

 shown, weighed a trifle more than the roots gathered the fall before from 

 the same plots. The analyses showed, however, a lower percentage of 

 dry matter and actually lower weight on that basis. There was a pro- 

 nounced exhaustion of sugars in the spring growth, but none of the 

 other constituents; instead, the other constituents were increased in pro- 

 portion to the loss of sugars. Nitrogen, which would be also indispen- 

 sable to new growth, was not consumed at the rate of sugar, but was 

 transferred to the growing stalks at a rate which left its proportion in the 

 parent crown almost unchanged. Total ash was not reduced but largely 

 increased as the organic matter was consumed. These points will be 

 considered again in connection with the development of the tops of the 

 plant. 



