Ch. XXIL | CLASSES AND ORDERS. , 133 
Musa, affords the Plantain and Banana trees, whose leaves and 
fruit are of great size. The Plantain trees grow to the height 
of twenty feet, having leaves about six feet long and two 
broad. Some of these trees in a plantation will not fail to be 
m bearing at every season of the year, so that the inhabitants 
of the countries which produce them are in no danger of per- 
ishing for want of food. The fruit when used as bread is roasted 
or boiled; it is also made into pies, or dried and preserved as a 
sweet meat. Three dozen of plantains are considered as suffi- 
cient food for a man during a week, and it is said will support 
him better than bread. 
567. The fruit of the Banana is not unlike the cucumber in 
form and size ; when ripe it is soft and pleasant to the taste. It 
is introduced at desserts at the tables of the rich in the West 
Indies ; and is much used as an article of food among the poor- 
er classes of people. How kind, my dear children, is Provi- 
dence, in thus causing the earth to bring forth cooling and 
nourishing fruits and refreshing shades in those parched and 
burning countries ! 
568. The Aloe belongs to the class and order we are consi- 
dering; there are a great many species of it; some grow buta 
few inches high, and others to the height of tall trees. The 
Aloe is a native of hot countries. The Negroes of the West- 
ern coast of Africa, make nets of the fibrous parts of the leaves 
of this plant; the Hottentot e the stem for their arrows. 
The people of Jamaica obtain materials from the Aloe plant 
from which they make fishing nets, stockings, and thread. In 
Mexico, a species of aloe serves for hedges, enclosures, beams 
for the roofs of houses, and leaves for their covering: its wood 
and fibres furnish needles and thread, cloth and ropes, while 
its juices afford sugar and vinegar. The juice of aloes was 
used among Kastern nations in embalming their dead. This 
ae is often spoken of in the Bible, particularly in the Old 
estament. It is very useful in medicine; for which purpose 
itis prepared by pressing from its leaves a gummy substance 
of an extremely bitter taste, from whence comes the very com- 
mon comparison, “as bitter as aloes.” The Island of Socotra 
was the first place where this gum was prepared ; hence it was 
called Socotrine aloes, a name which is still in use. Many 
plants of this genus produce beautiful flowers; some are said 
not to blossom until they are 100 years old. 
It is necessary'to pass over many interesting plants which 
, 567. What is said of the fruit of the Banana 2? 
_ 568, Repeat what is said of the Aloe plant. ; 
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