Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/153

AS P ' planted ; next, let the bed be co- vered to the thickness of about two inches witii earth, and encompassed with a straw-band.' About a week after, the whole should be sheltered under frames and glasses, and three inches of additional earth laid on the beds ; the proper season for constructing which is from No- "v ember to March. Dr. Darwin advises the loosen- ing, or turning over the earth, around and above the roots of this plant annually, for the purpose of admitting air into its ceLs or cavi- ties, to convert a part of the ma- nure, or carbonaceous soil, with which they have been supplied, into ammonia, or 'into carbonic acid, and thus to afford them both warmth and nutriment. The roots of this plant have a slightly bitter, mucilaginous taste, rather inclining to sweetness 5 the fruit is of a nearly similar flavour; but the young shoots are the most agreeable to the palate. Asparagus is allowed to promote the appetite 5 and affords a deli- cious article of nourishment to the invalid and valetudinarian, who is iaot troubled with flatulency : on the other hand, when eaten plenti- fully, it is attended with diuretic effects, and therefore a salutary food to those whose urinary pas- sages are liable 'to obstructions, and a defective secretion of that fluid. As a substitute for asparagus, the young buds of hops have been re- commended, as they may be more easily procured, and are both grate- ful and wholesome. Aspen-Tree. See Poplar. Aspentgo. SeeBuGLoss, Catcii- wi:kd, and Madwort. Asperula. See Woodroof. ASPHODEL, or King', Spear, NO. 1. VOL. I. Asp [129 the Aspliodelus, L. is an exotic plant, of which there are five spe- cies ; namely, four growing wild iii the southern parts of Europe, and one only, the Karthec'inm ossifrz- gum, or Lancashire Asphodel, a na- tive of Britain. Jt thrives in turfy marshes, and flowers in July and August. See Withering's Ar- rangement, 339, and Engl'. Bot. t. 535. The best method of propagating this ornament to a garden, is, by dividing the roots in August, be- fore they shoot their fresh green leaves ; they may likewise be raised from seeds sown in August; and at the same time in the succeeding year, the plants produced from these may be transplanted into beds, where they will blossom in the second year. They should not be planted in small borders, among tender flowers, as they require considerable nourishment. The Lancashire Asphodel is sup- posed to be very noxious to sheep ; for, when necessitated to feed on it, from a poverty of pasture, they will indeed improve in flesh at first, yet they afterwards die with symptoms of a diseased liver. Horned cattle, however, eat it without any bad erlect. There are wonderful tales re- lated of this plant by Pauli, Bar- tholini, and others: who call it Gramen ossifragtimfixxa its suppos- ed property ofehangingthe bones of such animals as swaHowit, into car- tilage; and thus producing that sin- gular disease in cattle, which in the human frame is, bv nosologists, termed inollities ossium, or softness of die bones. For the various purposes of eco- nomy, however, we recommend the culture of two species of this plant ; nam K 1. The