1883. 93 Trans. N. V. Ac. Set. 



and Dasylirion. and the yuccas. In many places these are the only 

 plants attaining any large size, and are very numerous, scattered over 

 the plains, and slopes of the mountains ; the plants not crowded, but 

 separated by intervals of a fevsr feet, which are occupied with a luxur- 

 iant growth of gramma grass. The yuccas belong to four species or 

 three species and two varieties. Yucca angnstifolia and Y. vaccata. 

 Of these, two rise to the height of five to fifteen feet, with trunks 

 from six to twelve inches in diameter, the crowded radiating leaves 

 crowning the summit in a round or oval mass, six feet or more in 

 diameter, the old leaves hanging perpendicularly and forming a pecu- 

 liar thatch around the trunk and extending to the ground. 



The century plant is, in Chihuahua, represented by a variety with 

 shorter and broader leaves than that commonly cultivated. From the 

 center of the tuft, the flower stalk rises from 10 to 25 feet in height, 

 composed of woody tissue and standing some years after bearing flow- 

 ers. These persistent flower-stalks, crowning the ridges and visible for 

 miles, give a peculiar aspect to the scenery. The century plants are, 

 however, nowhere as numerous as the species of Dasylirion, with 

 which they are associated, and which do not die with the effort of flor- 

 escence. Further south, the agave supplies, from its sweet juice, the 

 material from which an intoxicating drink is produced. In, this region, 

 however, an alcoholic beverage is obtained from the " Sotol " {Dasy- 

 lirion Texamum), which, from its abundance and the use made of it, 

 deserves a prominent place among the economical plants of the coun- 

 try. Hundreds of thousands of acres are covered with this Sotol, and 

 it would seem that it might be much more largely utilized than it is, for 

 the manufacture of alcohol. The leaves are three to three and a half 

 feet long, by one and a half inches wide at the base, straight, fiat and 

 garnished on either side by strong recurved hooks. The color is yellow 

 green, and the leaves are very numerous. From the center rises, at a 

 certain stage of growth, a woody flower-stalk, ten feet high and at the 

 base as large as one's arm. The trunk rises but a few inches above 

 the ground and is completely concealed. The top of this trunk, com- 

 posed of the closely imbricated leaf-bases, which are broad, yellow, shin- 

 ing, succulent and sweet — with a pulpy mass at the center, containing 

 much saccharine matter, raw, or better roasted, is palatable and nutri- 

 tious ; so much so, that in the country where it grows, it is said the 

 Indians never really suffer for want of food, as this affords them an 

 abundant if not varied aliment. 



In the preparation of Sotol whiskey — a liquid called mescal, as is 

 also that made further west from other plants, the portion of the plant 

 which has been described is trimmed so as to resemble a head of cabbage, 

 then roasted and fermented, the product of the vinous fermentation being 



