100 



capillary simple stalks, drooping, white, row of the 

 segments inflexed, in some the stamens, and in others 

 the pistil occasionally abortive ; style deeply three- 

 cleft. Berry red. The above are the specific charac- 

 ters of the wild Asparagus found abundantly on 

 parts of the southern sea-coast of England, as Wey- 

 mouth, Harwich, Eastbourne, &c. In its wild state 

 the stems are not thicker than a goose quill, yet it is 

 from this, by good cultivation, that the garden Aspa- 

 ragus has been raised. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 



We are indebted for the following analyses to Dr. 

 Thomson's valuable work on Organic Chemistry, 

 where they have been ably collected and arranged. 



Asparagus sap. — M. Kobiquet found in this gluten, 

 a resinous oil, albumen, asparagin, saccharine matter, 

 potash, carbonate of lime, phosphates of potash and 

 lime, and, probably, acetates of potash and lime. 

 {Ann. de. Chim. Iv. 152.) 



The root of Asparagus was examined by M. Du- 

 long d'Astafort. He obtained albumen, gum, a 

 substance (asparagin) precipitated abundantly by 

 subacetate of lead and nitrate of mercury ; a resin ; 

 sugar, reddened by sulphuric acid ; supermalates, 

 chlorides, acetates, and phosphates of potash and 

 lime; and iron. (Journ. de Pharm. xii. 278). 



