ASPEN, AMERICAN. 



ASS. 



count country people often call it rattler. The ! account it has received from Michaux its 



aspen tree may be planted so as to ornament.' 

 large grounds, but its effect is lost when 

 crowded. When it meets the eye as a fore- 

 ground to plantations of firs, it has both a 

 pleasing and singular appearance, as its foliage 

 changes with the wind from a silver gray to 

 a*bright green, for when the sight goes with 

 the wind, it catches only the under side of the 

 leaves which are covered with a pale floss; 

 but when it meets the current of air, the tree 

 presents the upper surface of its foliage to the 

 view ; thus its tints are as changeable as its 

 nature is tremulous. Like its relative, the 

 poplar, this tree is of speedy growth, and will 

 thrive in any situation or soil, but worst in clay. 

 It is cultivated to the greatest advantage on 

 such as are inclined to be moist, without hav- 

 ing much stagnant surface water. In such 

 situations they sometimes grow to a conside- 

 rable size. It is accused of impoverishing the 

 land, and its leaves are charged with destroy- 

 ing the grass, whilst its numerous roots, which 

 spread near the surface, will not, it is said, 

 permit any thing else to grow. The wood is 

 extremely light, white, soft, and smooth, but it 

 is of little value as timber, being chiefly used 

 for making milk-pails, wooden shoes, clogs, 

 and pattens, &c. From its lightness it might, 

 however, probably be used to advantage for 

 the construction of common field-gates. The 

 bark is the favourite food of beavers, whilst 

 the leaves and the stalks form the nourishment 

 and birthplace of the tipula juniperina, a spe- 

 cies of long-legged fly. The aspen tree will 

 not bear lopping, like other species of the pop- 

 lar. (Phillip's Sylva Florlfera.) 



[ASPEN, AMERICAN (Populus Tremu- 

 loidefi}. This species of poplar is common in 

 the northern and middle sections of the United 

 States, and Michaux thinks, still more common 

 in Lower Canada. The same author remarks, 

 that, in the vicinity of New York and Phila- 

 delphia, where he observed it, it appeared to 

 prefer open lands of a middling quality. Its 

 ordinary height is about 30 feet, and its diame- 

 ter 5 or 6 inches. It blooms about the 20th of 

 ^ April, 10 days or a fortnight before the birth 

 *of the leaves. Of all the American poplars, 

 vhis species has the most tremulous leaves, 

 the gentlest air being sufficient to throw them 

 into great agitation. 



The wood of the American aspen is light, 

 soft, and without either strength or durability. 

 The most useful purpose which the wood sub- 

 serves, is perhaps the furnishing of thin 

 lamince, for the manufacture of women's hats, 

 light baskets, &c. The tree is considered very 

 inferior to several species of the same genus, 

 the Virginia poplar, for example, which is 

 three times as large, more rapid in its growth, 

 and of a more pleasing appearance. 



The large American aspen (Populus grandi- 

 dentafa), belongs rather to the Northern and 

 Middle, than to the Southern States. In the 



fost northerly districts it is rather a rare tree, so 

 at a person may perhaps travel several days 

 ithout seeing one. For this reason, Michaux 

 thinks it has been confounded with the preced- 

 ing species, which is more multiplied. It sur- 

 passes the trembling aspen in height, on which 

 134 



name. It grows as favourably on uplands as 

 on the border of swamps, and attains a height 

 of about 40 feet, with 10 or 12 inches in di- 

 ameter. In the spring, the leaves are covered 

 with a thick white down. The wood is light, 

 soft, and unequal to that of the Virginia and 

 Lombardy poplars. It possesses few, if any 

 valuable qualities for the arts, and is only 

 valuable for its agreeable foliage, which enti- 

 tles it to a place in yards and ornamental gar- 

 dens. (Michuux's Am. Sylva.)] 



ASS (Fr. Ant; Ger. Esel; It. Asino / Lat. 

 Asinui;'). A well-known and useful domestic 

 animal, whose services might be rendered even 

 still more useful for various purposes of hus- 

 bandry, if it were properly trained and taken 

 care of. Buffon has well observed, that the 

 ass is despised and neglected, only because we 

 possess a more noble and powerful animal in 

 the horse; and that if the horse were unknown, 

 the care and attention which are lavished upon 

 him being transferred to his now neglected 

 and despised rival, would have increased the 

 size, and developed the mental qualities of the 

 ass, to an extent which it would be difficult to 

 anticipate, but which Eastern travellers, who 

 have observed both animals in their native 

 climates, and among nations by whom they are 

 equally valued, and the good qualities of each 

 justly appreciated, assure us to be the fact. 



Indeed the character and habits of these two 

 quadrupeds are directly opposed in almost 

 every respect. The horse is proud, fiery, and 

 impetuous, nice in his tastes, and delicate in 

 constitution; like a pampered menial, he is 

 subject to many diseases, and acquires artifi- 

 cial wants and habits which are unknown in 

 a state of nature. 



The ass, on the contrary, is humble, patient, 

 and quiet, and bears correction with firmness. 

 He is extremely hardy, both with regard to the 

 quantity and quality of his food, contenting 

 himself with the most harsh and disagreeable 

 herbs, which other animals will scarcely touch. 

 In the choice of water he is, however, very" 

 nice ; drinking only of that which is perfectly 

 clear, and at brooks with which he is ac- 

 quainted. 



This animal is very serviceable to poor cot- 

 tagers, and those who are not able to buy or 

 keep horses ; especially where they live near 

 heaths or commons, the barrenest of which 

 will keep the ass, who is contented with any 

 kind of coarse herbage, such as dry leaves, 

 stalks, thistles, briers, chaff, and any sort of 

 straw. Animals of this sort requite very little 

 looking after, and sustain labour, hunger, and 

 thirst, beyond most others. They are seldom 

 or never sick ; and endure longer than most 

 other kinds of animals. They may be made 

 useful in husbandry to plough light lands, to 

 carry burdens, to draw in mills, to fetch water, 

 cut chaff, or any other similar purposes. They 

 are also very serviceable in many cases for 

 their milk, which is excellent for those who 

 have suffered from acute diseases, and are 

 much weakened ; and they might be of much 

 more advantage to the farmer, were they used, 

 as they are in foreign countries, for the pur 

 pose of breeding mules. 



