ALOE 9 



both before, and soon after these reports. Samuel Dale, 

 in 1751, expressly states (179) that aloes is brought to 

 England in large gourds from the island of Barbados, 

 and that the inspissated juice has the properties of Aloe 

 socotrina. 



From Cape Colony, Africa, where aloes was made by 

 Peter Van Wett, (239), aloes has been an article of 

 export since 1773. 



Curasao aloes was known in the Dutch market in 

 1847, and appeared in the English market for the first 

 time, as late as about 1876. The following, by the 

 author of this research, was published in The Western 

 Druggist, Chicago, in 1898: 



Cultivation, Preparation and Commercial Varieties 



"The aloe plant, wherever it is cultivated, requires 

 but little care. It will thrive hi almost any soil, and in 

 a wild state is known to be abundant on arid plains, 

 as e. g. hi the interior of Cape Colony. In this con- 

 nection, Mr. P. L. Simmonds' (599) book on Economic 

 Products of the Vegetable Kingdom, although written 

 in 1854, contains much valuable information that holds 

 good today, concerning the cultivation and preparation 

 of aloes, as well as statistics regarding all kinds of aloes 

 known at that date. 



"The usual mode of aloe propagation is by sprouts, 

 the only care required being to keep down the weeds. 

 In Barbados, Mr. Simmonds relates, great care is taken 

 to pick the stones from the ground, the plants being 

 then set in rows one foot apart to facilitate the removal 

 of weeds. The aloe is planted usually between April 

 and June, and is so hardy that it will live for many 

 weeks without a drop of rain. The collection is made 



