(IO) 



sisal plant {Agave sisalana)', and the common century 

 plant (Agave americana). The first two are decorative 

 and curious; from Agave sisalana is manufactured the sisal 

 hemp of commerce; the last, Agave americana, is well 

 known, and it is from the sap of related species that the 

 Mexican drink "pulque" is obtained by fermentation. 

 It is popularly believed that the century plants flower but 

 once in a hundred years, and then die; it is true that the 

 plant dies when done blooming, but it blooms at a much 

 earlier age than a century, sometimes when but eight or ten 

 years old, it is said. The collection of West Indian Agaves is 

 especially rich in species. A curious desert plant among the 

 century plants on the side bench is called by the natives of 

 Mexico, its native country, "huariqui" (Ibervillea sonorae); 

 during the rainy season green stems arise from these large 

 woody plant-bodies, which at other times remain in a 

 resting condition. 



A group of the dracaena family may be found in the 

 central portion of this house. This comprises members 

 of the genera Aloe, Yucca and Dasylirion. A group of 

 cacti may also be seen here, the most imposing figure of 

 which is the giant cereus, Carnegiea gigantea, known as 

 "sahuaro" by the Mexicans and Indians of its native 

 country, Arizona and Sonora. The plants here shown 

 were obtained by an expedition sent to those regions by 

 the Garden in 1902, and are the largest specimens in culti- 

 vation in the east. Several large specimens of the hedgehog 

 cactus, secured at the same time, form part of this group; 

 the Indians in the desert often secure a supply of drinking 

 water from these plants by cutting off the top and macer- 

 ating the interior substance. 



Houses Nos. 7 and 8 are wholly occupied by the cactus 

 family. The collections here have been greatly enriched 

 and enlarged in the past few years by extensive explora- 

 tions made in South America, in cooperation with the 

 Carnegie Institution, and from other sources. These col- 

 lections, the richest in species in the world, have been 



