10 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



superstitious Egyptians believe that this plant hinders evil 

 spirits and apparitions from entering the house; and on 

 this account, whoever walks the streets in Cairo, will find 

 it over the doors of both Christians and Jews. 



" The leaves of the different specimens of Aloe, as well 

 as the Agave, are highly serviceable to the natives of the 

 countries where they grow. The negroes in Senegal make 

 excellent ropes of them, which are not liable to rot in 

 water ; and of two kinds mentioned by Sir Hans Sloane, 

 one is manufactured into fishing-lines, bow-strings, stock- 

 ings, and hammocks; while the other has leaves, which, 

 like those of the wild pine and the banana, hold rain- 

 water, and thus afford a valuable refreshment to travellers 

 in hot climates. The poor in Mexico derive almost every 

 necessary of life from a species of Aloe. Besides making- 

 excellent hedges for their fields, its trunk serves instead of 

 beams for the roofs of their houses, and its leaves supply 

 the place of tiles. From these they obtain paper, thread, 

 needles, clothing, shoes, stockings, and cordage ; from the 

 juice they make wine, honey, sugar, and vinegar." 



Such of the Aloes as do not require a stove will bear the 

 open air, in our climate, from the end of March to the end 

 of September. During the winter they should be watered 

 about once in a month ; in the summer, when the weather 

 is dry, once in a week or ten days ; but when there is much 

 rain, they should be sheltered from it, or they will be apt to 

 rot. If the weather be mild, they may be placed where they 

 may receive the fresh air in the day-time for a month after 

 they are housed ; after that the windows should be closed. 

 They should not be put into large pots, but should be re- 

 moved into fresh earth every year, which should be done 

 in July. As much of the earth should be shaken away as 

 possible, the roots opened with the fingers, and such as are 

 decayed taken off; but great care must be taken not to 



