Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 23 



flowers of this prodigious plant. The leaves of this and some 

 other Agaves, such as A. Mexicana, furnish the strong Pita-fibre, 

 which is adapted for ropes and even for beautiful textile fabrics. 

 The strength of ropes of this fibre is considerably greater than that 

 of hemp-ropes ; they are durable as well in as out of water. The 

 leaves contain saponin. The mellaginous sap, which on incision 

 flows from the voung flower-stem, can be converted into an alcoholic 

 liquid, and thus the " Pulque " beverage is prepared. Where spa-ce 

 and circumstances admit 'of it, impenetrable hedges may be raised 

 in the course of some years from Agaves. One kind rose in Fiji 

 also to 38 feet [Thurston]. The infusion of the leaves can be 

 applied as an insecticide. 



Agrave heteracantha, Zuccarini. 



Northern Mexico and Texas. The Ixtli-fibre, now extensively 

 used for brushes, is much derived from this species. From Tampico 

 alone have lately been shipped about 35,000 tons of this fibre annually. 

 The average length is 24 inches [Consul Cassard]. The fibre is also 

 worked into ropes and mats [Dr. C. Mohr]. 



Agrave inaequidens, K. Koch. 



Mexico. Closely allied to A. Americana ; it seems to include A. 

 Hookeri and A. Fenzliana, Jacobi, according to Baker (in Bot. Mag. 

 6589 and Gardeners' Chronicle 1871 p. 718). All these serve also 

 grandly as scenic plants. 



Ag-ave rigrida, Miller.* 



Southern Mexico. The Chelem, Henequeri and Sacci, furnishing 

 the Sisal-hemp. Drs. Perrine, Scott and Engelmann indicate 

 several varieties of this stately plant, the fibre being therefore 

 also variable, both in quantity and quality. The leaves of the 

 Sacci or Sacqui give the largest return. The yield of fibre begins 

 in four or five years, and lasts for half a century or more, the plant 

 being prevented from flowering by cutting away its flower-stalk 

 when very young. The produce is from l,0001bs. to l,2001bs. clear 

 fibre per acre, worth 30 to 50 per ton. In the Bahamas 150,000 

 acres were lately granted by the governor for Sisal-culture. The 

 fibre is straight, glossy and strong, particularly well adapted for 

 ropes as resisting dampness. The total export of Sisal-hemp from 

 Yucatan had reached already some years ago in value half a million 

 sterling [D. Morris], it has now risen to two millions. The leaves 

 are from 2 to 6 feet long and 2 to 6 inches wide ; the flower-stem 

 attains a height of 25 feet ; the panicle of flowers is about 8 feet 

 long, bearing in abundance bulb-like buds. Other large species of 

 Agave, all fibre-yielding, are A. antillarum (Descourtil) from Hayti; 

 A. Parryi (Engelmann) from New Mexico ; A. Palmeri (Engelmann) 

 from South -Arizona, up to a cool elevation of 6,000 feet. -A. Ixtli 

 (Kar-winski) seems to belong to A. rigida. Concerning the uses of 



