263 



JDschynomene aspera, L. 



The Solah of tropical Asia. A large perennial erect or 

 floating swamp plant, probably hardy in the warmer tracts 

 of our Colony. Introduced from the Botanic Grarden of 

 Melbourne into the tropical parts of Australia. The pith- 

 hats are made from the young stems of this plant. The 

 Solah is of less importance for cultivation than for naturalisa- 

 tion. 



Agave Americana, L. 



The gigantic Aloe of Central America. It comes here 

 into flower in about ten years. The pithy stem can be 

 utilized for some of the purposes, for which cork is usually 

 employed, for instance, to form the bottom of insect-cases. 

 The honey-sucking birds and the bees are very fond of the 

 flowers of this prodigious plant. The leaves of this and 

 some other Agaves, such as A. Mexicana, furnish the strong 

 Pita-fibre, which is adapted for ropes, and even for beautiful 

 textile fabrics. The sap can be converted into alcohol. 

 Where space and circumstances admit of it, impenetrable 

 hedges may be raised in the course of some years from 

 Agaves. 



Agrostis alba, L. 



The Piorin or White Bent-Grass. Europe, North and 

 Middle Asia, North Africa, North America. Perennial, 

 showing a predilection for moisture. It is valuable as an 

 admixture to many other grasses, as it becomes available at 

 the season, when some of them fail. Sinclair regards it as a 

 pasture grass inferior to Pestuca pratensis and Dactylis 

 glomerata, but superior to Alopecurus pratensis. The 

 variety with long suckers is best adapted for sandy pastures, 

 and helps to bind shifting sand on the sea coast, or broken 

 soil on river banks. 



Aletris farinosa, L. 



The Colic root of the woodlands of North America. This 

 pretty herb is of extreme bitterness, and can be medicinally 

 administered as a tonic. 



