CCLXXX.—-BOMBAY ALOE FIBRE. 
(Agave vivipara, L.) 
In the Kew Bulletin, 1890, P 50, an account was given of a fibre 
known in commerce as Bom bay Aloe. Fibre prepared from Agave 
vivipara. It appears that there is a variegated form of this plant in 
India, and recently through the kindness of Mr. G. Marshall Woodrow, 
Lecturer on Botany at the College of Goieiicd; Poona, several living 
specimens Mr. Woodrow supplied the following: interesting informa- 
tion :— 
Mr. G. MansuaLL Wooprow to Royat GARDENS, Krew. 
Dear Sim, College of Science, Poona, 19th May 1892. 
In reply to your letter of the 23rd April, I have the pleasure of 
intimating despatch by parcel post of a box containing nine Agave 
viv vipara "variegata plants, with a mature leaf, and a branch with 
flowers of the typical plant ‘of this variety. 
There are two distinct forms of Agave vivipara, one has leav 
attaining A feet in length by 24 inches in br idih yi the abn part, 
which centre; the other attains n length, but 
is generally ach shorter, it is of the same br ad ds the r oder variety 
but somewhat thicker. The flowers are the same in both. The 
ks chr name is Guial. 
lant you refer to as having been received from the TED Go- 
ar in 1890 is of the long-leaved variety ; the one I send now is 
variegated form of the short-leaved var iety, it is a very cipia 
res 
es 
I will be glad to send youa large number if you can make use of 
ea 
be e is crop where S 
(Crotalaria juncea) or Ambadee (Hibiscus cannabinus) would thrive. 
interested in your statement that Agave vivipara is the 
the Bombay Flat That name is not known here, I presume it is the 
etn market name. I had not learned it, as the Kew Bulletin does 
reach Jes except the part that gives the list of. seeds available for 
distributi ion 
Yours, &c. 
The Director, (Signed) G. MARSHALL WOODROW. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 

