ASP 
ASP 
ASP 
100 
del phi a class -of plants : and in the natural 
method ranking under the 32d order, papi- 
lionace;c. The calyx consists of 5 divisions : 
the pod is oval, and” contains 2 seeds. Of this 
genus there are 37 species ; all of which are 
natives of warm climates, and must be pre- 
served in stoves by those who would cultivate 
them here. The rose wood, whence the 
oleum Rhodii is obtained, is one of the species, 
but of which we have yet had no particular 
description. This wood was antiently in 
much repute, as an astringent ; but it is 
now used chiefly as a perfume. 
ASPARAGUS, a genus of the monogynia 
order and hexandria class of plants; and in 
the natural method, ranking under the 11th 
order, sarmentacete. The calyx is quinquepar- 
tite, and erect ; the three inferior petals are 
bent outwards ; the berry has three ceils, and 
contains two seeds. There are 13 species ; but 
the only one cultivated in the gardens is the 
common asparagus, with an upright herba- 
ceous stalk, bristly leaves, and equal stipula. 
The other species are kept only for the sake 
of variety. 
The garden asparagus is cultivated from 
seed. The manner of saving it. is this : mark 
with a stick some of the fairest buds ; and 
when they are run to berry, and the stalks 
begin to dry and wither, cut them up ; rub off 
the berries into a tub, and pouring water upon 
them, rub them about with your hands; the 
husks will break and let out the seed, and will 
swim away with the water, in pouring it olT ; 
so that in repeating this two or three times, 
the seeds will be clean washed, and found at 
the bottom of the tub. These must be dried, 
and in the beginning of February, sown on a 
bed of rich earth. They must not be sown 
too thick, and must be trod into the ground, 
and the earth raked over them smooth ; in 
October, when the stalks are withered and 
dry, a little rotten dung must be spread half 
an inch thick over the whole surface of the 
bed. Next spring, the plants will be fit to 
plant out ; the ground must therefore be 
prepared for them by trenching it well, and 
burying a large quantity of rotten dung in 
the trenches, so that it may lie at least 6 
inches below the surface of the ground : when 
this is done level the whole plot. The asparagus 
is to be planted out in the beginning of March, 
if the soil is dry, and the season forward ; but 
inawetsoil,itis better to wait till the beginning 
of April, which is about the season that the 
plants are beginning to shoot. The season 
being now come, the roots may be placed 
two inches under the surface of the ground ; 
and between every four rows, a space of 
two feet and a half should be left for 
walking in, to cut the asparagus. The second 
spring after planting, some ©f the young as- 
aragusmay be cut for the table. But the 
irger shoots should only be taken, and these 
should be cut at two inches under the ground. 
As some people however are very fond of 
early asparagus, the following directions are 
given, by which it may be obtained any time 
in winter : plant some good roots of one 
year old in a moist rich soil, about eight 
inches apart ; the second and third year after 
planting, they will be ready to take up for hot- 
beds ; these should be made pretty strong, 
about three feet thick, with new stable dung 
that has fermented a week or more ; the beds 
must be covered with earth six inches thick ; 
then against a r'dge made at one end, begin to 
lay in vour plants, without trimming or ent- 
ing the fibres, and between every row lay a 
little ridge of fine earth, and proceed thus 
till the bed is planted ; then cover the bed 
two inches thick with earth, and encompass 
it with a straw band ; and in a week, or as the 
bed is in the temper, put on the frames and 
glasses, and lay on three inches thick of fresh 
earth over the beds, and give them air and 
add fresh heat to them as it requires. 'These 
beds may be made from November till 
March. 
ASPECT, in astronomy, denotes the situa- 
tion of planets and stars, with respect to each 
other ; whereof we find mention of five kinds : 
1 . Sextile aspect is when the planets or stars 
are 60 degrees distant, and marked thus *. 
2. The quartile or quadrate when they are 
90 degrees distant, marked □ . 3. Trine 
when 120 degrees distant, marked A. 4. 
Opposition when 1 80 degrees distant, marked 
§ . And, 5. Conjunction, when both in the 
same degree, marked d . 
Kepler, who added eight new ones, defines 
aspect to be the angle formed by the rays of 
two stars meeting on the earth, whereby their 
good or bad influence is measured ; for it ought 
to be observed, that these .aspects being first 
introduced by astrologers, were distinguished 
into benign, malignant, and indifferent ; the 
quartile and opposition being accounted 
malign, the trine and sextile benign or 
friendly, and the conjunction indifferent. 
Aspect, double, in painting, is used where 
a single figure is so contrived, as to represent 
two or more different objects, either by 
changing the position of the eye, or by means 
of angular glasses. 
Aspect, in a military sense, is the view or 
profile of land or coast, and contains the 
figure or representation of the borders of any 
particular part of the sea. These figures and 
representations may be found in all the rut- 
tiers or directories for the sea-coast. The 
Italians call them demomt rat lone. By means 
of this knowledge you may ascertain whether 
the land round the shore is high ; if the coast 
itself is sleep or sloping ; bent in the form of 
an arc, or extended in staight lines ; round at 
the ton, or rising to a point. Every thing, in 
a word, is brought in a correct state before the 
eye, as far as regards harbours, bogs, gulphs, 
adjacent churches, trees, windmills, &c. &c. 
Aspect, menacing. An army is said to 
hold a menacing aspect, when by advanced 
movements or positions it gives the opposing 
enemy cause to apprehend offensive opera- 
tions. 
Aspect, military. A country is said to 
have a military aspect, when its general situa- 
tion presents appropriate obstacles or facili- 
ties for an army acting on the offensive or 
defensive. 
Aspect, imposing. An army is said to 
have an imposing aspect, when it appears 
stronger than it really is. This appearance 
is often assumed for the purpose of deceiving 
an enemy, and may not improperly be con- 
sidered as a principal feint in war. 
ASPEN-fmr. See Populus. 
ASPER, in grammar, an accent peculiar to 
the Greek language, marked thus (') and im- 
porting that the letters over which it is placed 
ought to be strongly aspirated, or pronounced 
as if an h was joined with them. 
Asper, or aspre, in commerce, a Turkish 
coin, three of which make a medine, and 
worth something more than our halfpenny. 
ASPER IFOLIATE, or asper ijolius , 
among botanists, such plants as are rough- 
leaved. Of this kiud are bugloss, borage. 
See. 
ASPERUGO, small wild bugloss, a genus 
of the pentandria monogynia class ; and in 
the natural method ranking under the aspe- 
rifoliae. The calyx of the fruit is com- 
pressed, with folds daily parallel, and sinuous. 
There are two species, viz. 
1. Asperugo JEgypticica,' a native of 
Egypt. 
2. Asperugo procumbens, or wild bugloss, 
a native of Britain ; which is eaten by horses, 
goats, sheep, and swine ; but cows are not 
fond of it. 
ASPERULA, zvoodroof, a genus of the 
monogynia order and hexandria class of 
plants, and in the natural method ranking 
under the 47th order, stellate. The corolla 
is infundibuliform ; and the capsule con- 
tains two globular seeds. There are eleven 
species, two of which grow wild in England, 
viz. 
1. Asperula cynancMca, found on chalky 
hills. The roots are used for dyeing red i« 
Sweden. 
2. Asperula odorata, a low umbellife- 
rous plant, growing wild in woods and copses, 
and flowering in May. It has an exceeding 
pleasant smell, which is improved by mode- 
rate exsiccation. It imparts its flavour to 
vinous liquors. Asperula is supposed to 
attenuate viscid humours, and is recommend- 
ed in obstructions of the liver and biliary 
ducts, and by some in epilepsies and palsies ; 
modern practice has nevertheless rejected it. 
The smell of it is said to drive away ticks and 
other insects. 
ASPHALTUM. See Bitumen. 
ASPHODELUS, asphodel, or king’s 
spear, a genus of the monogynia order, be- 
longing to the hexandria c lass of plants. 
The calyx is divided into six parts; and the 
nectarium consists of six valves covering the 
nectarium. r l here are five species, viz. 
1 . Asphodelus ramosvs , or white aspho* 
del. The leaves are Tong ; the stalks 
rise to above three feet high, and divide 
into several spreading branches ; these 
are terminated by loose spikes of white 
flowers. 
2. Asphodelus liiteus, or common yellow 
asphodel, has strong round single stalks near 
three feet high, with yellow star-shaped 
(lowers, which ap pear in J une. 
3. Asphodelus Jistulosus, or onion-leaved 
asphodel, is an annual plant, the llowers of 
which are white. 
ASPIRATE, in grammar, denotes words 
marked with the asper. 
ASPIRATION, among grammarians, is 
used to denote the pronouncing a syllable 
with some vehemence ; as these words be- 
ginning with the letter H, hear, heat, which 
are pronounced more softly without the FI, 
as ear, cat. 
ASPIS. See Coluber. 
ASPLENIUM, milt-waste, or spleen - 
wort, in botany, a genus of cryptogamious 
plants of the order filices, the fructification of 
which is arranged in clusters, ami disposed 
in form of straight lines, under the disk of the 
leaf. ( 
This genus comprehends 47 species, na* 
