52 BOTANY. 



Indians, roasted several hours (without direct access of air?), and then eaten. 

 The first effect is that of a laxative on those not accustomed to the food. 

 Dr. Loew's analysis of the dried, uncooked young leaves revealed the fact 

 that there was no starch present, not even a trace. Yet the sweet taste of 

 the roasted Mescal was enough alone to suggest the presence of sugar. He 

 discovered that exposure to heat alone, will cause it to yield grape-sugar 

 in abundance. This also took place on application of cold water, and he 

 remarks that it appeared impossible to separate the suspected new substance 

 he had to deal with from the cellular tissue without simultaneous formation 

 of grape-sugar. Further examination proved he had to do with a com- 

 pound body, a glucosid and citric acid. This he names citro-glucosid. It 

 differs from this class of bodies in this, that water alone can separate it into 

 grape-sugar and citric acid ; the compound never before having been 

 found in nature or made in a laboratory. The flowering stalk when green 

 is much resorted to by Indians and travellers to alleviate the suffering 

 caused by the parched mouth; they take a section of the stem, say a foot 

 long, and suck out the saccharine fluid, and afterward chew the interior 

 pith or pulp. When dried, the stems are used to form covering for houses, 

 before the mud is thrown on, which is to complete the roof. 



In connection with what has been said of the strong fibre of Agave, 

 it might be appropriate to mention that the Dasylirium, or Bear's Grass, 

 of which there are several species in this same region, also produces more 

 or less fibi'e that may yet be utilized. 



Yucca baccata, Torr., along with other species of the same genus, is, 

 like Agave, also known to the Mexicans as Amole, and the root used by them 

 in washing. Dr. Loew has recently furnished an analysis of the root (Vol. 

 Ill, p. 609, Wheeler's Reports), and finds the pith produced on agitating the 

 pounded root in water is due to saponin. Of course, its marked detergent 

 properties depend on this. The leaves of this also furnish a coarse fibre. 



