CULTIVATION OF SISAL IN THE BAHAMAS 215 



gigantic sea-urchin. The leaves as they unfold from the bud slowly 

 assume a horizontal position, but remain rigid and straight, never 

 curving downward, as they do in the century plant. 



As has been said above, when the plant arrives at maturity, and 

 has a sufficient store of nourishment, it sends up its flower-stem, known 



Fig. 6. — Agave rigida, var. sisalana, in blossom, near Nassau, N. P. 



to cultivators as the " mast" or "pole." This is from twenty to twenty- 

 five feet high, and about six inches in diameter near the base. On the 

 upper two-thirds branches are developed, converting the pole into a 

 huge panicle, covered with innumerable greenish yellow flowers. A 

 peculiarity of the sisal plant is that it seldom or never sets a seed. The 

 flowers fall, carrying the ovary with them, then on the ends of the 



