2T4 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Its effects upon the system are alterative, sudorific, and secretive ; it is used 

 for chronic rheumatism, skin diseases, and is considered especially efficacious 

 as a restorative after an excessive mercurial course. At the present day it is 

 largely used in the manufacture of patent medicines, — the regular physicians 

 havdng found substitutes which they consider more efficaciou.s. 



Marts. — It is believed that the S. sarsaparilla has the same medicinal prop- 

 erties as the S officinalis ; but this is disputed, and it is claimed that the root 

 which supplies the market is from the S. officinalis only. Jamaica sarsaparilla 

 is from Central America, and takes its name from the fact that it is shipped 

 from Jamaica to Europe. The cortex of the root is red, and clothed with 

 short rootlets ; it is sent to market in bundles 1 8 inches long and .5 inches in 

 diameter ; these are made up into bales for shipment. 



The North American market is supplied with Honduras sarsaparilla, pro- 

 cured from a species which is not known to botanists, or is not well determined ; 

 it is shipped from Balize in large bales, made up of small bundles, 30 inches 

 long and 6 in diameter, weighing 3 to 5 pounds each ; the ends of the bales 

 being covered with green raw-hides. 



The market of the United States is partly supplied by what is known as 

 Mexican sarsaparilla ; it is shipped from A'era Cruz, and is the root of the 

 S, medica. It is a slender, shrivelled root, done up in large bundles, of 300 

 pounds each, fastened together with ropes. 



Another sort, of very good quality, is known as Eio Xigro sarsaparilla, 

 which is the root of S. papyracene. It is shipped at Para in neat rolls 3 feet 

 long and 1 foot in diameter, bound together by a vine. Xearly all of this 

 variety goes to Spain and Portugal. 



ASPARAGTIS, L. Flowers perfect; calyx with 6 equal, narrow, 

 oblong, petal-like sepals, barely connected at the base, spreading. 

 Stamens united near the base ; anthers peltate ; style short ; stigmas 3. 

 Ovary 3-cornered, top-shaped, and 3-celled; cells 2-seeded. Leaves 

 reduced to minute scales. Branches thread-like. Fruit, globular 

 berry; seed angular, outer covering black and leathery; embryo 

 curved and eccentric. Root a mass of long fleshy fibers, about an 

 eighth of an inch in diameter. Perennial herb. 



A. officinalis, L. (Asparagus or Sparrow Grass.) Stem paniculately 

 branched, 3 to 4 feet high, .starting from the root in a stout shoot. Branchlets 

 in fascicles, thread-like, bristly, and flexible, from haK an inch to an inch and 

 a half in length, pale pea-green. Flowers very small, axillary on the branches, 

 solitary or in twos, yellowish-green. Berry Avith 6 seeds. 



There are about 100 species, but the A. officinalis is the only one cultivated 

 for food. 



The asparagus is propagated from the seed, and sports. There are many 

 varieties; but there are two known to the market gardeners as favorites, 

 under the names of red top and green top. These change in form and size by 

 high culture. 



Geography. —The asparagus grows in the middle latitudes of the north 

 temperate zone, is largely cultivated in England, Holland, throughout central 

 Europe, in the countries of the Mediterranean, and on the sandy plains of 

 Poland and southern Russia, about the Caspian Sea.^^^ was introducedii]*©. 

 Hindustan by the English, and is extensively cultivatedJSb^rf^ : it is hIso found 



