IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 21 



coast. Such places could also here readily be utilised for this 

 and allied plants. Dr. Sibthorp identified this species with 

 the A\6r) of Dioscorides ; hence it is not probable that A. 

 vulgaris is simultaneously also of American origin, although 

 it is cultivated in the Antilles, and furnishes from thence the 

 main supply of the Barbadoes aloe. In East India this 

 species also seemingly only exists in a cultivated state. 

 Haworth found the leaves of this and of A. striata softer and 

 more succulent than those of any other aloe. It is said to be 

 the only species with yellow flowers among those early known. 

 It is also this species only which Professor Willkomm and 

 Professor Parlatore record as truly wild in Spain and Italy. 



Aloe Zeyheri, Harvey. 



South Africa. A magnificent, very tall species ; doubtless 

 valuable like the rest. 



Aloexylon Agallochum, Loureiro, 



Cochin- China, on the highest mountains. The precious aloe 

 wood, so famed for its balsamic fragrance and medicinal pro- 

 perties, is derived from this tree. 



Alopecurus bulbosus, Linne. 



Middle and South Europe. An important grass for salt 

 marshes. 



Alopecurus geniculatus, 



Europe, Asia, North Africa. A good fodder-grass for swampy 

 ground ; easily naturalised. 



Alopecurus pratensis, Linne.* 



Meadow Foxtail-Grass. Europe, North Africa, North and 

 Middle Asia. One of the best of perennial pasture-grasses. 

 It attains to its full perfection only after a few years of growth, 

 as noticed by Sinclair. For this reason it is not equal to 

 Dactylis glomerata for the purpose of changing crops. Other- 

 wise it is more nutritious than the latter, although the annual 

 return in Britain proved less. Sheep thrive well on it. Sinclair 

 and others found that this grass, when exclusively combined 

 with white clover, will support from the second season five 

 ewes and five lambs on an acre of sandy loam. But this grass, 

 to thrive well, needs land not altogether dry. In all permanent 

 artificial pastures this Alopecurus should form one of the prin- 

 cipal ingredients, because it is so lasting and so nutritive. In 

 our Alpine regions it would also prove prolific, and might 



