21 



In this Table Case observe— TABLE 



No. 36. Samples of Aloes, the inspissated juice of several CASE 

 species of Aloe. It is obtained by cutting the leaves trans- ^• 

 versely and allowing the juice to exude spontaneously into 

 vessels placed to receive it, after which it is evaporated to a 

 proper consistency by artificial heat. 



The principal sources of commercial aloes are Aloe vera, L., 

 (A. vulgaris. Lam.,) a perennial found wild in Northern 

 Africa, and also, probably, in Peninsular India, possibly also indi- 

 genous in the Canary Islands and Southern Spain. It has long 

 been cultivated in Jamaica, Antigua, and Barbados. It yields 

 common or Barbados aloes, which is imported in boxes holding 

 about 56 lbs. each, or in gourds holding from 10 to 50 lbs. or 

 more. Aloe spicata, L., A.ferox, Mill., A. africana, Mill., A. 

 plicatilis, Mill., and others yield Cape or South African aloes, 

 samples of which are shown, as well as Hepatic and Caballine 

 aloes, Zanzibar aloes, and fiae samples of Natal and Curacoa 

 aloes ; also a very fine specimen of aloin. Observe a series 

 illustrating the collections of Socotrine aloes from A. Perryi, 

 Baker, " Teif rhiho," watery aloes in first stage as it runs 

 from the leaves. It goes in this form only to the Persian 

 Gulf, and sells at three dollars per skin of 30 lbs. Note skin 

 used for collecting the fluid aloes from the leaves and a small 

 ekin of solid aloes " Teif Kasahul," third stage, after keeping 

 about six weeks, exported generally as an article of commerce. 



[In Case 15, in Room 2, observe stems of the Tree Aloe 

 {Aloe dichotoma, L.) of Namaqualand, S.W. Tropical Africa, 

 also a bushman's quiver for holding poisoned arrows, made of a 

 hollowed stem of the aloe, together with the poisoned arrows 

 and bushman's bow. A painting of the tree is shown on the 

 wall of the landing of the descent staircase.] 



On the other side of the Table Case are samples of fibre, 

 cordage, paper, and other products from species of Yucca, 

 Note bonnet made of the cuticle of the leaves of the V\''est 

 Indian Dagger Plant, Yucca aloifolia, L. ; also razor strop 

 from the flower spike of the same species. 



No. 37. Fine section of stem of Yucca brevifolia, 

 Engel., from Mohave Desert, California. Samples of fibre 

 taken from the centre of the trunk are also shown, as well as 

 photographs of the plant [one on landing of the descent staircase] 

 and illustrations of the collecting of the stems for paper- making. 



