ALOE ARREE. 5 



It belongs to the order Amaryllidacex. Fig. 2 is a photograph of a 

 young plant of Agave Americana in my possession grown as a window 

 plant. 



The fine white fibres are sometimes used for brush-making, but are 

 almost too delicate for commercial use. 



Aloe, Bastard, or Manila Aloe Fibre (Agave vivipara, Amaryllidacese). 

 These fibres occur in the fibrous bundles that have been detached from 

 the ground tissue of the leaves. 



The plant is a native of India. Its specific name is derived from 

 the peculiarity its seeds have of germinating before they leave the 



Fig. 2. Agave Americana (young). 

 > 



parent plant. In order to obtain the fibres the leaves are retted 

 for fifteen or twenty days and the fibres are purified by washing 

 and preparing them. The fibres are strong and sometimes known as 

 "Maguey," and have been used for making violin strings, cordage rope 

 and mats. Many other species of the genus " Agave " have furnished 

 fibres suitable for similar purposes, including Agave ferw: Socotrina, 

 vulgaris and other species. 



Arree or Bun Raj (Bauliinia racemosa, Leguminosre). A species 

 of Bauhinia, known as mountain ebony. 



The species are numerous ; they are climbers, and mostly inhabit the 

 East Indies ; but a few come from Jamaica and the Brazils. They 

 belong to the natural order Leguminosfe. The leaves are simple and 



