[ 157 ] 

 Ayavcae (also certain other fibre plants) or to their products. 



RBMAKKS 



28 Hernandez' figure represents a small ' cabbage ' Agave, rather like 

 some of the ornamental kinds seen in gardens, but unknown in 

 India ; it seems near Agave Shawii, Engelmunn, of California, but 

 it may not be an TZuagave. Its leaves were eaten by the natives 

 as several species allied to A. Shawii are to this day by the 

 Apaches, etc., who also prepare an intoxicating beverage from the 

 Mescals of their country but by a different method from that of 

 the South. Zuccarini identifies Hernandez* picture with hit 

 A. heteracantha (usually regarded as a chief source of Tampico 

 fibre) but it looks like certain species since discovered in North 

 Mexico. 



20, 19 Given to the 'Agave americana,' which has been supposed to yield 

 so many economic products. (See Maguey, Pulque, &c.). About 

 Mexico itself the local Agaves are chiefly valued for the sap, 

 while the best fibres, those of Yucatan, come from altogether 

 different species. The name perhaps originated with the ' Agave 

 mexicana' of the Encyclop. Meth. which is unmaintainable. 

 See also Pite d' Haiti and Tequila. Mr. Gamble's 'A. mexicana,' = 

 (F) of this Bulletin, from North India is an altogether different 

 thing from what Spon intended. 



49 



22, 23 



23 



Also shown (from Madras) in 1857. 

 species no doubt contributed. 



See the preceding : several 



17 



Mr. Rose has shown recently that the botanical identity of the 

 plants which yield this, also called (from places of export) 

 'Tampico fibre/ 'Matamoras fibre ' &c., is as yet very doubtful. 

 See the next also. 



None of the Agaves that yield the Brush-making staple so largely 

 exported from ports on the Gulf of Mexico are naturalized or 

 grown on a commercial scale in India, and most of them belong 

 to a different group from that which embraces the I'ulque Agaves, 

 with the Sisal Hemp and other loni:- stapled fibre plants of the order. 

 Mr. Booth's account of the Tampico fibre is very clear as regards 

 the trade from Northern Mexico where this class of fibre constitutes 

 the local ' Istle ' as contrasted with the Istle of the coast from 

 Vera Cruz eastwards, which is from a different natural order. 

 In India, however, good brush fibre has been taken from one or 

 more of the naturalized Euagaves. (See Aloe fibre (3), Mexican 

 Whisk, Lily fibre and Eeju). 



This is the Bromelia pita (for which see above) or ' Istle ' of 

 certain parts of Central America, ami altogether different from the 

 preceding, as well as from the Mexican Whisk used in brush* 

 making. It has been confused in America and eleewhere with 

 ' Tampico fibre ' ; also with the * Sisal Hemp (See Sisal Hemp, 

 Istle, Ixtle and Silk Grass), and in India ^iih Mexican Whisk, 

 which see, also the preceding. 



