AI LMIYLL ID ACHAE 



The flowering stalks of the locheguilla are also much heavier and 

 taller than these of A. schottii. The Agaves have a narked erosion 

 control value hut whether they can be used successfully in a reve- 

 getation program is doubtful because of their extremely slow growth. 



Agave huaoliucensis, huachuca Cev.tv.ry Plant, is one of the 

 century plaTTtT ' vThTcir'Ys"* "abundant in the Huachuca "fountains of south- 

 ern Arizona and some of the nearby low ranges. Plants closely 

 resemble the common century plant but the leaves are much shorter 

 and proportionately wider. It often forms pure stands covering 

 small areas on rocky slope.? and ridges. Comparatively recently a 

 permit was issued to a liquor firm to harvest the c audioes of this 

 plant in the Huachuca fountains for the manufacture of mescal, a 

 potent alcoholic beverage possibly no worse than "that good old 

 whiskey" which goes down smoothly ana makes its victims see red. 

 Since this Agave is slow growing it is not likely that it will be 

 raised commercially in competition with the common century plant 

 which is the source in I'exico of sisal fiber, of pulque, Mexico's 

 national drink comparable to United States beer, and of the potent 

 drink, mescal. In recent years a syrup of the agave plant has been 

 marketed in the United States as a palliative or euro for high blood 

 pressure,- even the drink mescal has for many years been reported 

 as a remedy for arterio sclerosis. 



There are several other Agaves in the southwest, none of 

 which arc of importance probably, except as ornamentals. One of 

 the most promising from this point of vicar is Aga ve palmer i which 

 has rather narrow long, very thick leaves which are dark green in 

 color. 



Agave schottii, sometimes called Amole, is so abundant in 

 the mountains of the southwest that it is often considered a nui- 

 sance. The short stiff leaves often form a continuous carpet on 

 dry roclry slopes. There is considerable evidence that the butts 

 of the plants and the leaves arc eaten by rodents, peccaries and 

 probably door. This seems to occur only in places where water is 

 not available. It seems not unlikely that this plant may sometimes 

 be commercialized to the extent that the caudices and root crowns 

 will be harvested in the field since it is high in saponin or a 

 similar substance. The plant has been used probably for centuries 

 by the Indians and later by the Mexicans as a source of lather 

 for washing, the hair particularly. The saponin content is similar 

 to that of the closely related plant, Agave lecheguilla, and to 

 several of the Yuccas. 



