224 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Fig 16. Sechnguilla. 



affection for their children is an 

 unfailing and very pleasing sight, 

 but the poverty of their homes, 

 only too evident to even the less 

 prying sight-seer, is scarcely com- 

 pensated for even in this affection 

 — which appears to me the best 

 quality of the Mexican peon. 



The lecheguilla agave well pic- 

 tures a division of the genus in 

 which the flowers are clustered 

 along the upper part of the scape 

 instead of being disposed on the 

 branches of a candelabrum-like 

 top. Of this type is further the 

 'guapilla '— A. falcata — a very 

 narrow-leaved small species of the 

 region about Saltillo, which also 

 yields good ixtle. 



The minor uses of agaves are 

 hardly worthy of detailed mention 

 in comparison with their commer- 

 cially important use as a source of 

 fiber and alcohol. These uses, 

 however, are many, as I have 

 already said. Under the name 

 1 amole ' one may buy in most 

 Mexican market places either leaf 

 bases of agaves like A. filifera or, 



Fig. 17. Spinning and Weaving. 



