AGAVE INTRODUCED INTO INDIA. 45 
bably introduced into India by the Portuguese, and is now 
common in both the northern and southern parts of India. 
The species which I found most common in the north-west of 
India was Agave vivipara. This seems to be the same as 
the Agave americana of Roxburgh (‘ Herb. Amb.,’ v, 94). I 
observed that on rich soils, the plant invariably produced bulbs, 
but no seeds ; while on a poor stony soil and dry climate, like 
that of Delhi, seeds alone are produced. This species must be 
closely allied to the A. Cantala of Dr. Roxburgh, which is, no 
doubt, a naturalised plant. These species or varieties flourish 
in dry parts of the country, where few fibre-yielding plants 
succeed so well, such asin the Deccan and in Mysore. Far in 
the north-west, the outer hedge of the Saharunpore Botanic 
Garden was formed of the Agave, and the fibres were com- 
monly used for all garden purposes. Dr. Buchanan, at the 
beginning of the century, found the villagers in Mysore em- 
ploying it for making strong hedges, and separating the fibres 
for cordage; and Mr. Webb, who was employed with Dr. 
Anderson in cultivating the Nopal for the Cochineal insect, 
had a plantation of the Agave, near Madras. Of this the 
fibres were made into rope, and reported upon at the arsenal of 
Fort St. George, as long since as the year 1798. 
Mr. William Webb having made a plantation of the Agave 
plant, in the year 1798 manufactured ropes from its fibres, 
which he considered superior in strength to that made in 
Europe. He also stated that he believed rope without tar is 
preferable for all military purposes. He submitted a coil of 
this rope to the Military Board of Fort St. George, with a 
suggestion that he should be allowed to supply it in lieu of 
rope made in Europe. Capt. P. Malcolm, of H.M.S. 
Suffolk, writing from Cochin, reported upon it, “as strong, if 
not more so, than Coir, and as having the advantage in plia- 
bility.” A Committee of the Military Board were “of 
opinion, that its appearance promises well, and that from a 
trial that has been made of it, it is at least equal when new 
to the best Europe rope of the same size in point of strength. 
Sixteen of the battering guns having been mounted with it 
before it gave way, while Europe rope of a larger kind failed 
after it had been employed in mounting only four guns.” 
But it was observed that the yarns were made too large, and 
