212 



ALL FLOWER OXLV ONCE AND THEN PERISH. 



A. atrovivcns is of exceptional economic interest, as from it is 

 prepared the fermented drink called pnlque, the favorite beverage 

 of the Mexicans, who cultivate the plant on an extensive scale 

 for the sake of the sweet sap which it secretes when it has arrived 

 at maturity and is about to flower. The sap is obtained by cut- 

 ting off the top of the flower stalk at any early stage and hollow- 

 ing out the stem to form a cup into which the sap flows, and is 

 removed several times each day until it ceases to run. The sap 

 is then placed in bull-hide vats to ferment, a kind of yeast being 

 added to hasten fermentation, the entire process resulting in the 

 end in a variety of wine, resembling in color and general appear- 

 ance the zccisshicr of Germany. It is an agreeable wholesome 

 drink, being a valuable nutrient as well as a mild stimulant, as it 

 contains from 4 to 8 per cent, of alcohol. Pulque is said to be 

 good for inflammatory and catarrhal conditions of the bladder and 

 kidneys, and to be an almost unfailing remedy for what is known 

 as Bright's disease. It is now prescribed by American physicians, 

 who even send their patients to Mexico to drink fresh prepara- 

 tions of it, as it is liable to secondary fermentation a few hours 

 after it has been made, which renders it unwholesome. 



There are countries in the British Empire where the conditions 

 of soil and temperature are such as would favor the growth of 

 this agave ; for example the plains round Johannesburg, where, 

 to those engaged in the mines, a plant that yields both wine and 

 medicine and rec^uires practically no cultivation would be a bless- 

 ing. There is a useful fibre also in the leaves of this plant, not so 

 good perhaps as sisal hemp, but good enough for many purposes. 

 If once established in a country this agave would reproduce it- 

 self naturally, and most likely with great prodigality, by means 

 of seeds and stem bulbils, which it bears in profusion. Of course 

 it might prove a nuisance by providing a cheap intoxicating drink 

 to natives, thus reducing their value as workers. It is worth 

 trying on a small scale, anyhow. — Field, April 13. 



"THE LARGEST PIECE OF RUBBERr 



In our last issue we asked if any of our readers knew of the 

 largest piece of raw rubber on record. We referred to a biscuit 

 weighing 559 pounds, which was exhibited at the Rubber Exhibi- 

 tion of 1908, and also to a block which figured at several tyre ex- 

 liibitions, and weighed about 8 cvvt. This week we are enabled, 

 by the courtesy of the St. Helen's Cable and Rubber Co.. Ltd., 

 Warrington and London, to publish a i)hotograi)h of a piece of 

 l-'ine Hard I'ara, which they bought about five or six years ago. 

 This block weighed nearly half a ton, to be exact 1100 ])ounds, 

 and was shown at several exhiliitions about the country. It is 

 claimed that this is the largest piece of rtibber ever iiiii)orted. — 

 hid'm Riihhcr JoiinKtl, .\i)ril 20. 



