[S00 140 
EXPLANATORY APPENDIX. 
ty-two pages of the documents annexed to the report of the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives, made on the 17th February, 
8, numbered 564, and consisting of 99 pages. 
Plate No. .1. Fig. A, represents the shape and dimensions of a single 
green leaf of the Agave Sisalana, or Sisal Hemp Plant of Yucatan. Fig. 
B, do. do. do. of the Bromelia Pita, or forest pine-apple, Flax Plant of 
Goazacoalcos. Fig. C, exhibits the footstalk of a leaf of the Musa sapien- 
tium, or edible Banana of the tropics, intended to illustrate the structure of 
the Musa Abaca, or wild Banana of the Philipines, from whose petioles the 
Manilla. Hemp is obtained. The original specimens of the leaves and peti- 
oles, and of the course and fine foliaceous fibres yielded by them, remain in 
or Sisal Hemp Agave of Yucatan, of the variety called Yashqui.. Fig. A 
2. The fibres exposed from AA to the point of the leaf, by means of the 
triangular wooden scraper T: 'The unscraped butt end of the leaf is sus- 
the injurious effects of rotting by its own juices; and any process of macera- 
tion applicable to the dead dried barks of common flax ‘and hemp, prepara- 
Plates 3 to 9, inclusive, exhibit plants embraced under the title of the 
Pine-apple Tribe. Plates 3 to 7 includes A, the thick fleshy leaved species ; 
and plates 8 and 9, B, the thin dry leaved species. : 
_ A. Plate 3. Agave Mexicana, or Pulque Agave, which yields from its de- 
veloping stalk the celebrated Mexican substitute for beer, wine, and cider. 
Plate 4. Agave Sisalana, or Sisal Hemp Agave of Yucatan, whose 
mature green leaves yield the foliaceous fibres called Sisal Hemp, and Grass 
Hemp, in the United States, and Sosquil in Mexico. It is represented with 
the lower layers of leaves cut off, as it appears, after the first crop has been 
taken, to be scraped for market. 
a 
