REMARKS ON THE ALOE. 211 



at the top yellowish green flowers, and gives the landscape an original 

 appearance. The pith of the stem, called Pitta, serves the collectors 

 of insects instead of cork." 



May not the French name Pitte be taken from this word Pitta ? 



Lavaysse, in his " Venezuela," says, the inhabitants make ropes 

 from the Agave fcetida : — 



" The leaves of the different specimens of Aloe, as well as the 

 Agave, are highly serviceable to the natives of the countries where 

 they grow. The negroes in Senegal make excellent ropes of them, 

 which are not liable to rot in water ; and of two kinds mentioned by 

 Sir Hans Sloane, one is manufactured into fishing-lines, bow-strings, 

 stockings, and hammocks ; while the 'other has leaves, which, like 

 those of the wild pine and the banana, hold rain-water, and thus 

 afford a valuable refreshment to travellers in hot climates. The poor 

 in Mexico derive almost every necessary of life from a species of 

 Aloe. Besides making excellent hedges for their fields, its trunks 

 serves instead of beams for the roofs of their houses, and its leaves 

 supply the place of tiles. From these they obtain paper, thread, 

 needles, clothing, shoes, stockings, and cordage ; from the juice 

 they make wine, honey, sugar, and vinegar." 



Such of the Aloes as do not require a stove will bear the open air, 

 in our climate, from the end of March to the end of September. 

 During the winter they should be watered about once in a month ; in 

 the summer, when the weather is dry, once in a week or ten days ; 

 but when there is much rain they should be sheltered from it, or 

 they will be apt to rot. If the weather be mild, they may be placed 

 where they may receive the fresh air in the day-time for a month 

 after they are housed ; after that the windows should be closed. 

 They should not be put into large pots, but should be removed into 

 fresh earth every year, which should be done in July. As much of 

 the earth should be shaken away as possible, the roots opened with 

 the fingers, and such as are decayed taken off; but great care must 

 be taken not to break or wound those which are young and 

 fresh. Water them gently when newly planted, place them in the 

 shade for three weeks, and if the weather is hot and dry, water them 

 in a similar manner once or twice a week. Most of the species may 

 at this time be increased by offsets, which should be planted in very 

 small pots ; and if, in taking off the suckers, you find them very 



