A G A 



A G A 



three-celled, llircc-valved capsule, and the seeds 

 are nuiucrous. 



There arc several species ; but those of most 

 importance for the purpose of cultivati^i arc, 

 1. j). ylmcrkana. Great American Agave; 'J. 

 yl. Firghiica, Great Virginian Agave ; 3. ^J. 

 viv'iparu, Viviparous or Childing Agave; 4. Jl. 

 fcctiJa, Ketid Agave ; 5. .4. liirida, Broad-leaved 

 Vera Cruz Agave ; 6. A. tuberosa, Tuberous-root- 

 ed Agave. 



In the first sort, when vigorous, the stems 

 general!)' rise to upwards of twentv feet in height, 

 and branch out on every side, so as to form a 

 kind of pyramid composed of greenish-yellow 

 flowers, which stand erect, and come out in 

 thick clusters at every joint. When these plants 

 flower, they make a fine appearance, and con- 

 tinue a long time in beauty, if they are pro- 

 tected from the cold in autumn ; as there will be 

 a succession of new flowers produced for nearly 

 three months in favourable seasons. It has been 

 generally believed that this plant does not flower 

 till it is a hundred years old ; but this is a great 

 mistake, as the time of its flowering depends on 

 its growth : so that in hot countries, where it 

 grows fast, and expands many leaves every season. 

 It flowers in a few years ; but in colder climates, 

 where the growth is slow, it will be much longer 

 before it shoots up a stem. The seeds do not 

 come to maturity in this climate. It has been 

 long preserved in gardens in this country, where, 

 for many years past, there have been several of 

 the plants in flower. 



It has two varieties, that are in cultivation : 

 the American Agave with gold-striped leaves, 

 and the American Agave with silver-striped 

 leaves. 



Though plants of the common Agave have 

 flowered in many different places, few of the 

 variety with yellow-striped leaves have been yet 

 seen in blow in this climate. 



The second species has so much resemblance 

 to the first, as not to be distinguished from it 

 except by good judges. The principal differences 

 are, that us leaves are narrower towards their 

 extremities, and of a paler green colour : the 

 stems do not rise so high, or branch in the same 

 manner ; and the flowers are collected into a 

 close head at the top, but are of the same shape 

 and colour. It seldom puts out so many offsets 

 as the common kind. This grows to a large 

 size. 



The third species never rises to a large size : 

 the leaves are seldom more than a foot and a 

 half long, and about two inches and a half broad 

 at their base ; these end in a slender spine, being 

 slightly indented on their edges; are also reflex, 

 and oi* a dark green colour. Tlw; flow er-stcm 



rises about twelve feet in height, and branches out 

 towards the top, in the same maimer as the 

 fetid sort : the flowers are nearly of the same size 

 and colour with that, and after they fall oft' arc 

 succeeded by voung plants in the same manner; 

 hence it has obtained the title of Childing Agave. 

 As it never produces any suckers from the root, 

 it cannot be mcreased till the time of flowerina:. 



The fourth species has long, narrow, stiff 

 leaves, of a pale green colour, not indented on 

 their edges, but frequently a little waved : the 

 side leaves spread open ; but those in the centre 

 fold closely over each other, and strictly surround 

 the bud. It is seldom more than three feet high ; 

 but the flower-stem rises near twenty, and 

 branches out much like that of the first, but more 

 horizontally, forming a regular pyramidal head : 

 the flowers are of the same shape, but smaller 

 and of a greener colour. In a plant that flowered 

 here, they were succeeded by young plants, on 

 their dropping off" in the spring, the old plant 

 dying soon afterwards. 



The fifth species has considerable resemblance 

 to the first sort, but is of a much more moderate 

 growth ; and the leaves are much thinner, the in- 

 dentures on their edges abundantly closer, and 

 not so deep : the spines too are blacker. The 

 difference in flower is not yet well ascertained, 

 few having flowered in this climate. 



There is a variety of this plant in which the 

 leaves are verj- narrow, not exceeding an incli 

 and a half or two inches in breadth, and a foot and 

 a half to two and a halfin length, being rigid, stiff", 

 and entire; and are terminated by a stiff" black, 

 spine ; the outward ones spreading in a horizontal 

 manner. It never throws out suckers. 



The sixth species has the leaves indented on 

 their edges, each indenture terminating in a. 

 spine : the root is thick, and swells close above 

 the surface of the ground ; but in other respects 

 it agrees with the species described above. The 

 plants never put out suckers from the roots. 

 The fructification of these two last species is not 

 well known. 



The roots in all the sorts are of the fibroui 

 thick fleshy kind, which spread considerably ; 

 and they are all natives of America. 



Culture. — In the cultivation of these plants; 

 some care and attention is necessary'. They are 

 propagated in different methods, according to 

 the differences in the habits of the plants; as 

 by offsets, parting the roots, seed, and planting 

 the small plants formed on the flower-stems. 

 When seed is employed, it should be procured 

 from abroad, as it does not come to perfection 

 in this climate. 



All the species, as they are extremely succulent 

 in their iiaturc, require to be pJautcd in iuch eariU 



