SATEEN ODL Sots See co RM mee NSE IT SEES 5 ey Siar 
155 
FLORIDA. 
It is well known that plants of Sisal hemp were pepa to Florida 
from Yucatan by Dr. Perrine in the years 1836 and 1837. It is to this 
introduction that Florida and the adjoining Keys owe their present 
ibre 
distribution of Sisal Hemp plants in Torida, and he peels see 
new and interesting facts respecting their a en introduction. In 
illustration we quote the following paragraphs 
“ Mrs. Walker informs me that the first introduetion of the plant from 
Yucatan occurred in the years 1836 and 1837, a few plants having been 
sent to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Cuba at the same time. O 
plants brought to Florida, part were taken to Indian Key and the others 
were planted upon ‘the Indian hunting ground,’ on the borders of 
Biscayne Bay. It is also stated that when these plants had multiplied 
to some extent the officers at Fort t Dallas, at the mouth of the Miami 
River, 12 miles from this locality, were in the habit of gathering the 
fees where it soon obtained a foothold. The plants set out on 
Indian Key multiplied very ae and a few years after the destruction 
of the sherri: and the death of Dr. Ponie at the time of the Indian 
massacre, a schooner load of =e young pista were gathered and taken 
away, though it is not stated where they w 
“From this first introduction of the py r da var. sisalana into 
Florida the plants twee rapidly, especially on the mainland, being 
commonly transplanted to the gardens of the early settlers of south 
eet he ape for the sake of ornament. 
46 
plant introduced into Florida Dr. Perrine, for fibre culture, and 
considered by Dr. _ Engelmann to be ‘the most valuable of the fibre- 
producing Agaves 
“This is the forà that I found growing along the entire southern 
coast of Florida, on my recent survey, from Cape Canaveral on the east 
side, around to Charlotte Harbou ur on the west or Gulf coast, and 
including many of the Keys. 
“ The most interesting tract oe along m T aites of the coast was 
found on the point perhaps a mile below the railroad station and wharf 
at a spins Here I found a thicket of these ig pat , both the smooth 
an 
