12 , 1892 .] 
the graphic. 
357 
history of the Agaves of the garden—a new 
i, presented by Dr. Engelmann, blossomed for 
it time recorded in the annals of botany, and was 
hristened, by Professor Trelease, Agave Engel- 
-an appropriate memorial to Dr. Engelmann’s 
•ly work on the Agaves. Of kindred interest is 
tier group of plants so characteristic of south- 
n North America, the Yuccas, members of the 
order Ltliacese. A splendid collection of them is 
id in several beds about the grounds, including 
more important species; and hundreds of the 
on variety—Yucca filamentosa—are scattered here 
* re 8 S ' he place all 
the supposed Chrtetrthorn are among the collection. 
Side by side stand the wild and the true grape. The 
allspice and myrrh represent two of the ‘•sploee” of 
these is the stinging nettle—he » 
Trelease in soutnem uauiornia aim ™ 
regions, through which he made an extended botanical 
expedition in the interest of the garden. This trip also 
added many valuable Cacti and several Agaves. These 
three groups—the Cacti, Agaves and Yuccar-are espe¬ 
cially well represented; and this we must consider a 
most wise provision, since a field is thus offered for the 
study of these forms of vegetation peculiar to the 
■ren lands of Mexico and the adjacent portion of the 
the beauty of 
!?Z' ,)f a ce! "and especially appreciated, because so 
rerelv do we see them thus thriving ont-of-doors. When 
£2 the secret of their treatment, Ur Onr-Tjb. 
to'palmswere'wbUered were kept cool 
^1 Id-too S to allow them to grow. Thus. 
imens of 1 
i Ficus and Musa—the figs and bananas—are 
nomics of particular interest, and many 
>th are to be counted. 8ome superb spec- 
e India-rubber trees (Ficus Indica and T. 
nament the Parterre, and a noticeable 
variety is the famed Australian banyan (Ficus macro- 
phylla), a plant of which stands prominently m the 
foreground in the photograph of economic plants (Fig. 
2). The collection of economic plants, for the most 
part tropical, is one of the most instructive features of 
the garden to the average visitor. The species number 
several hundred and are bedded out over a considerable 
area just west of Strobel’s House. Winding paths 
twisting through the beds make it possible to show_ t e 
whole number to advantage, and a careful examination 
is a profitable investment of time. To catalogue even 
a few of them here is hardly possible, for dozens ot 
them are of equal interest and no satisfactory reasons 
could be offered for mentioning a particular few. 
Many are medicinal, some deadly poison when taken 
internally, like the Strychnos nux vomica; 1 
violent blood and skin poisons, as the devil- ree 
India, the sandbox, and the fabled deadly upas of Java 
and the ordeal-nut of Madagascar. Some are del cions 
edibles-the sugar cane, the pineapple and 
famed mangosteen of Africa; still others i 
Plants, valuable timber trees, gum-bearing tre< 
on ad infinitum. 
Trees and shrubs innumerable ar 
beautiful evergreens, iw^^ y “ d 
loaded down with fruit, 
there are hedges, hedges o, 
btaXde’Tflue old English gentleman’ through and 
through.” ... hm not been mentioned. It 
yea-s’conreeof stud/ ^ ^ arrauged. The 
practical work in me s y,, dlrecWr and his 
pupils are under -toe ^ ofbred to aid them 
assistants, and every °PP°" ’ iB aU the depart- 
tahecomiug skmed a^WdSctotiu^ ^ . 
l and so 
