As'calon or Ashkelon, one of the five chief cities of the ancient Philistines, lying north of Gaza on the Mediterranean. It had a shrine of the Syrian fish-goddess Derketo, and was the birthplace of Herod the Great. In Solomon's time it was subject to the Jews, but later became independent. Under the Romans it was a kind of republic and afterward the seat of a Christian bishop. The Arabs took it in 637, and in 1099 the crusaders, under Godfrey de Bouillon, gained a great victory before its walls. Recaptured by the Moslems, it was retaken after five months' siege in 1157 by Baldwin III. It was dismantled by Saladin in 1191, and completely destroyed in 1270 by Sultan Bibars.
Ascension (ăs-sěn'shǔn) Island. Originally discovered by the Portuguese in 1501 and called Concepcion Island, its rediscovery on Ascension Day, seven years later, procured for it the name it still holds. It is of volcanic origin, 7 j- miles long and with an area of 35 square miles, lying in latitude 7° 55' south, longitude 14° 25' west, 700 miles northwest of St. Helena. It came into possession of the British in 1815 and is under the jurisdiction of the admiralty, being used as a depot for coal, stores and provisions for ships on the South Atlantic station. It has been strongly fortified recently, and the discipline of a man-of-war is maintained. The population, including about 160 Kroomen, is 450. Georgetown, on the northwest coast, is the garrison Station and there is an excellent sanitarium up Green Mountain. The island is a great resort of sea turtle, as well as of rabbits, wild goats and partridge.
Ascension, Right, in astronomy, a term used with declination (tending down or aside), for defining the position of-points of the celestial concave and indicating their positions relative to each other, right ascension being measured on the equinoctial from the first point of Aries eastward, while declination measures the secondaries of the equinoctial to the north and south poles of the heavens from o to 90. Right ascension, which is commonly expressed in time, one hour corresponding to 15° on the celestial sphere, is invariably measured from west to east, thus corresponding to longitude on the earth, while declination corresponds to latitude. The right ascension of a star or other heavenly body is ascertained by a transit instrument and a clock.
Ascham (as'kam), Roger, a well-known scholar and teacher, was born in a small English village about 1515, and was taker Into the family of a nobleman to be educated. While there he sliowed so much taste for study, that in 1530 he was sent to St. John's College, Cambridge. He was specially fond of Latin and Greek, and soon became known as a scholar in those languages.
Soon after his graduation he began to act as a tutor, and his success brought to him the sons of many noblemen. He was then appointed Greek lecturer at the university, and in 1544 was made university orator. He was very fond of archery, and wrote a book about the right way to use the bow. He also was quite a musician as well as an artist. In 1548 he was appointed to take charge of the education of Princess, afterward Queen, Elizabeth. After traveling on the continent for a time, he became Latin secretary to Queen Mary, and when Elizabeth became queen he spent part of each day with her, reading Latin and Greek authors, of which she was very fond. His success as a teacher led him to write his famous book called The Schoolmaster. He died at London in 1568.
Ascomycetes (ǎs-kō-mi-sē'tēz). A very large group of low plants (Fungi), among which the common mildews may be taken as a type. The mildews are surface parasites and are commonly found covering the leaves of the higher plants with a whitish covering. The leaves of the lilac are very commonly infested by this parasite. To this group also belong such well-known forms as the common blue mould found on bread, fruit, etc.; the common fungus, whose subterranean body produces truffles; the fungi which cause the diseases known as black knot of plum and cherry; forms which cause the witch's broom, peach curl, etc.; while to the same group oelong the common cup-fungi and the edible morels; perhaps the common yeast is an ascomycete. The name of the group is derived from the fact that the spores are developed in delicate sacs, each sac being called an ascus; while the spores within these asci are known as ascospores. See Fungi.
As'cospore (in plants). An asexual spore produced by the ascomycetes.
As'cus (in plants). A sac producing spores, characteristic of the ascomycetes.
Asex'ual Spore (in plants). A spore which has not been formed by the union of two cells, that is, in a sexual way. Ordinarily, the asexual spore is formed by cell division. Its power of reproduction is the same as that of the sexually formed spore, the difference between the two being simply one of origin. Asexual spores are common among all groups of plants. They are the spores most commonly seen in connection with the flowerless plants, and among the flowering plants the so-called pollen grains are asexual spores. See Spore.
Ash, a tree common to Europe and on the North American continent, of the genus Fracinus and family Oleacea. According to its variety it is valuable economically as timber used by carpenters, coachmakers and wheelwrights, as well as picturesquely for its ornamental and shade purposes. The varieties of the ash are many, includ-
