Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 25 



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

 grandly as scenic plants. The larger Agaves are among the best of 

 plants to intercept bush-fires, though only available for winterless 

 climes ; they are much preferable to Opuntias, as they are not prone 

 to stray into pastoral areas. 



Agave rigida, Miller.* 



Southern Mexico. The Chelem, Henequen 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 1,000 Ibs. to 1,200 Ibs. clear fibre per acre, worth 

 30 to 50 per ton ; in 1889 it realized from 45 to 56 per ton in 

 the markets of London and Liverpool. In the Bahamas 150,000 

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

 fibre is straight, glossy and strong, pcirticularly 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 (Engelraann) from New Mexico ; A. Palmeri (Engelmann) 

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

 (Karwinski) seems to belong to A. rigida. Concerning the uses of 

 Agaves refer also to Dr. Fr. P. Porcher's " Southern Fields and 

 Forests," p. 596-599 (1869), and to Consul Th. J. MacLain's report 

 on the Sisal industry in the Bahamas [Dyer, " Kew Bulletin," July 

 1890.] 



Agave vivipara, Linn6. 



Mexico and Honduras. This species is cultivated for hedges in 

 some parts of India, especially near water-courses, and has in several 

 districts become naturalised. Flowered at Mortala [Th. Hanbury]. 

 Latterly a fibre obtained from this plant has been sent to the London 

 market as Bombay Aloe-fibre. Samples prepared by the Death's 

 Fibre Machine Company were found to be of excellent quality, worth 

 from 25 to 30 per ton. This species is of rather slow growth. Mr. 

 J. G. Baker defines specifically 138 species. 



Agonis flexuosa, De Candolle. 



The Willow-Myrtle of South-Western Australia. A tree, attain- 

 ing finally a height of 60 feet, with pendant branches. One of the 



