Amju<i?y,imarm'}    Legislation  and  Judicial  Decisions.  33$ 
other  uses  for  which  the  plant  itself  and  its  products,  and  the 
by-products  and  wastes  of  the  fibre-extracting  mills  are  adapted. 
The  waste  fibre  of  the  mills  is  used  for  oakum  and  as  packing 
material,  and  can  be  used  for  making  coarse  paper.  A  handful  of 
the  waste  serves  as  a  toilet  sponge  and  is  quite  commonly  used  in 
this  way.  The  sharp  spine  at  the  tip  of  the  leaf  is  often  used  as  a 
nail.  With  a  strand  of  fibre  left  attached  to  it,  it  serves  as  a 
threaded  needle  and  is  much  used  for  sewing  up  bagging,  repairing 
harness,  sandals,  etc.  The  flower-stalks  are  used  for  fishing  poles, 
lance-handles,  razor  strops,  and  for  constructing  the  walls  of  huts. 
The  leaves  are  used  as  fodder  and  to  thatch  huts.  The  roots  and 
leaves  of  several  species,  especially  Agave  saponaria,  .are  used  as 
soap  substitutes. 
The  plants  are  much  used  in  Mexico  for  hedges,  and  in  many 
parts  of  the  world  in  ornamental  gardening. 
STATISTICS  OF  OUR  IMPORTS. 
During  the  year  ending  June  30,  1900,  the  principal  fibres  im- 
ported into  the  United  States  were  valued  at  $26,373,805,  which  was 
distributed  among  the  various  fibres,  as  shown  in  the  following  table: 
U.  S   IMPORTATIONS  OF  FIBRE  FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  JUNE  30,  I9OO. 
Tons. 
Dollars. 
11,782,263 
7,172,368 
3,956,413 
Flax  
  6,967 
1,646,274 
475,090 
450,269 
891,128 
249,307 
26,373,805 
The  PrkscotT  Portrait. — A  life-size  oil  portrait  of  Dr.  Albert  B.  Prescott 
was  presented  to  the  University  of  Michigan  by  the  alumni  of  the  School  of 
Pharmacy  on  June  18th.  Dr.  A.  B.  Lyons  was  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and 
Mr.  A.  L.  Parker  formally  presented  the  portrait  to  the  University.  President 
James  B.  Angell,  responding  on  behalf  of  the  University,  alluded  to  Dr.  Pres- 
cott's  long  connection  with  it,  and  said  that  the  University  Faculties  looked 
forward  to  the  day  when  a  great  chemical  laboratory  should  replace  the  present 
one— one  worthy  of  the  University  and  worthy  to  bear  the  name  of  the  Pres- 
cott Laboratory.  Dr.  Edward  Kremers,  of  Madison,  Wis.,  delivered  an  address 
on  "  The  State  University  and  Pharmaceutical  Education. "  An  informal  recep~ 
tion  at  the  residence  of  Prof.  A.  B.  Stevens  concluded  the  exercises. 
