A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE ASPARAGUS PLANT. 271 



Composition of Asparagus Stalks in Spring. 



[Parts in 100.] 



Ash, . 

 Protein, 

 Fiber, . 

 Fat, . 



Nitrogen-free extract, 

 Total sugars, 

 Reducing sugars. 

 Pentosans, . 

 Lignin, etc.. 

 Total nitrogen, . 

 Protein nitrogen, 

 Amino nitrogen, 



8.77 

 33.25 

 18.90 



2.84 

 36.24 



9.91 

 7.75 

 14.23 

 12.10 



5.32 

 3.07 

 2.25 



9.07 

 31.19 

 17.15 



3.03 

 39.56 



15.47 

 11.66 

 12.80 

 11.29 



8.47 

 29.75 

 18.82 



3.20 

 39.76 



15.64 

 12.04 

 13.39 

 10.73 



4.76 



8.47 

 28.87 

 17.92 



3.22 

 41.52 



19.87 

 13.22 

 13.21 

 8.44 



4.62 

 3.15 

 1.47 



Two notable sets of changes occurred in the composition of the series 

 of samples. 



Sugars increased remarkably in the successive periods, while protein 

 and lignin decreased. Dry matter was practically constant. In 1914 two 

 other lots of stalks were analyzed primarily for another purpose, but 

 protein, sugar and dry matter behaved in a manner similar to that of 

 the earlier samples. 



It seems probable that this change in amount of sugar is due to photo- 

 sjTithesis, since so much of the stalk is above ground and supplied with 

 chlorophyl. Growth is somewhat slower as the season advances after 



