49 



Specimens of the Agave that I saw had leaves six feet in length. 

 I am told by residents here that this plant throws up its tall 

 spike of flowers annually. I do not feel sure that such is the 

 case, but at all events it must flower quite often, and little 

 deserves the name of the *' Century Plant." I am surprised that 

 the fibrous threads into which the leaves of this plant can be 

 split has never been utilized for making cloth or cordage. While 

 the leaf is fresh the filaments can be pulled apart by the fingers 

 with the utmost ease, and they are as fine as sewing cotton and 

 wonderfully strong. With their great length they should be 

 equal, if not superior, to hemj) for working purposes, and I see 

 not why they would not be fully as strong and flexible as the 

 hemp fibres. 



In closing this article, which is written under great difficul- 

 ties, I wish to acknowledge the many courtesies extended to me 

 by the gentlemen connected with the Public Museum, the Public 

 Schools and the English press of this city, as well as by Ameri- 

 can residents and business men to whom I brought letters of 

 introduction. I have already spoken of Dr. Spegazzini. I am 

 also especially indebted to Dr. George J. Ryan, Director of the 

 Normal School, who has greatly interested himself in my work, 

 and to Hon. B. W. Hanna, our United States Minister, who has 

 done all in his power to facilitate the object for which I have 

 visited this country, and whose assistance has been of great value 

 in my intercourse with Argentine officials. 



Buenos Aires, Oct. 26, 1888, 



On Gyno-Dioecious Labiatse. 



, Dioecious Labiatae are not uncommon among the genera and 

 species of the Old World. The plants are not absolutely of sep- 

 arate sexes, but in the one case individual plants have herma- 

 phrodite flowers abundantly fertile, and plants wholly female 

 through the total abortion of the anthers. So far as I know, no 

 American species has presented this character, but European 

 species of this class, introduced to this country, retain the pecu- 

 liarity, showing that the tendency is inherited, and is not due to 

 the accident of environment. Dr. Gray notes that this charac- 

 ter — termed gyno-dioecious; — exists here among the introduced 



