Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 209 



able industrially for fibre. Frost injures the leaves of this species. 

 Development of flower-stalks extremely rapid, up to 30 feet high. 

 Fibre often 3 feet long and of considerable tenacity. The fibre, 

 produced in Mauritius by Messrs. Bourgignon and Fronchet, 

 proved stronger than hemp and resisted decay in water. Mr. 

 Boucard also testifies to the excellence of the fibre, which he 

 describes as long, silky and solid, particularly adapted for 

 luxurious hammocks and for cordage. This fibre is worth in 

 London about 37 the ton, 



Fourcroya longeeva, Karwinski and Zuccarini. 



High mountains of Guatemala and Mexico, particularly at an 

 elevation of about 10,000 feet. One of the most gigantic and mag- 

 nificent of all liliaceous or amaryllideous plants, in volume only 

 surpassed by Dracaena Draco, the Dragon-tree of the Canary- 

 Islands. This is the principal high-stemmed species, the trunk 

 attaining a height of 50 feet, and the huge panicle of flowers 40 

 feet more. It does not die, like allied plants, after flowering. The 

 species is recorded here as a fibre-plant, but should also be culti- 

 vated for its ornamental grandeur. It has flowered 26 feet high in 

 the cool clime of New Zealand. 



Fragraria Californica, Chamisso and Schlechtendal. 



California and Mexico. Closely allied to F. vesca. Strawberries 

 can be preserved by being placed successively in layers of sugar, 

 over which salicylic acid is strewn in the proportion of a teaspoon- 

 ful to 4 Ibs. of sugared fruit, or the salicylic acid should be added, 

 dissolved in alcohol. 



Fragraria Chiloensis, Alton.* 



Chili- Strawberry. In various of the colder parts both of North - 

 and South-America, occurring also in Juan Fernandez, and at 

 elevations between 4,000 and 6,000 feet in Hawaia (Dr. Hille- 

 brand). Almost incredible accounts have been published regard- 

 ing the yield of the Chiloen Strawberry in the neighborhood of 

 Brest, far exceeding the fecundity of any other strawberry. 



Fragraria collina, Ehrhart. 



Hill- Strawberry. In various parts of Europe. Cultivated in 

 Norway to lat. 67 56 ; [Schuebeler] ; may be regarded as a mere 

 variety of F. vesca. Fruit of a somewhat musky odor. 



Fragraria grandiflora , Ehrhart.* (F. Ananas, Miller.) 



Ananas-Strawberry. Various colder parts of America. Closely 

 allied to F. Chiloensis. Many of the large-fruited varieties have 

 been derived from this species. The rearing of Strawberries has 

 in California assumed lately such magnitude, that 15,000 cases 



o 



