Accession

The ownership of a thing, whether it be real or personal, movable or immovable, carries with it the right to all that the thing produces, and to all that becomes united to it, either naturally or artificially; this is called the right of accession.

The doctrine of property arising from accession, is grounded on the right of occupancy.

The original owner of any thing which receives an accession by natural or artificial means, as by the growth of vegetables, the pregnancy of animals; the embroidering of cloth, or the conversion of wood or metal into vessels or utensils, is entitled to his right of possession to the property of it, under such its state of improvement. But the owner must be able to prove the identity of the original materials; for if wine, oil, or bread, be made out of another man's grapes, olives, or wheat, they belong to the new operator, who is bound to make satisfaction to the former proprietor for the materials which he has so converted.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.