native woods. 45 
with sand-paper — planing, or even paring 
with a knife, is difficult and unsatisfactory. 
Handle. A good handle is made from the 
side of an old cigar box (cedar). It is point- 
ed and merely inserted — no glue whatever 
being needed. 
Use. This strop (PI. III. 28) is of unques- 
tionable merit for keeping the edge of a razor 
keen and, being an absorbent, it prevents the 
razor being put away damp. Strop paste may 
be put on one side which will then serve the 
purpose of a hone. 
A rougher article than the one prepared for 
export, made of the same material, is common- 
ly used by the peasantry. 
©oratoe, ICeratto, Maypole, or ©entury Plant, 
Agave Morrisii. Order Amaryllideae. A noble 
Agave, common in the lowlands and in the lower 
hills. The flowering stem, or pole, reaches a height 
of from 15 to 20 feet. It is branched near the 
summit and when these produce their thousands of 
orange-yellow flowers during the summer months 
they form a very striking feature in the landscape. 
When a plant flowers, and its seeds ripen, it dies, 
but its place is soon occupied by numerous seed- 
lings, so that there is a constant succession of plants 
arriving at the flowering stage which occupies 
many years ; hence the popular name “ Century 
Plant,” though it is doubtful whether it takes long- 
er than from 15 to 25 years for the plants to arrive 
at maturity, this depending largely on the situation 
and soil. 
The leaves of this plant, doubtless due to the 
alkaline property they possess, are sometimes used 
for cleaning metallic vessels. 
