Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1900. 
Cultivation  of  Agaves. 
327 
1  per  cent,  solution  of  pure  sulphuric  acid.    In  this  mixture  dissolve 
2  grammes  of  pure  oxalic  acid,  then  place  the  whole  on  a  steam  bath 
for  two  hours  or  until  all  of  the  gold  is  reduced  to  the  metallic  state^ 
Decant  the  clear  liquid  as  closely  as  possible,  wash  the  gold  with 
distilled  water,  dry,  ignite  and  weigh.  This  method  works  well, 
but  the  volumetric  process  for  this  purpose  appeared  to  be  value- 
less. 
From  a  careful  perusal  of  the  data  contained  in  the  table  above, 
it  can  readily  be  seen  that  all  the  samples  were  of  good  quality,  but 
there  is  a  wide  variation  in  the  percentage  content  of  gold. 
In  order  to  fully  comprehend  the  actual  difference  in  money, 
existing  between  the  various  samples,  it  is  only  necessary  to  com- 
pare  the  figures  below  : 
Number. 
100  Ounces  Gold-Sodium 
Chloride  Contained 
Pure  Gold. 
Cost  at  $21  per  Ounce. 
Ounces. 
21'29 
$447  09 
26-I3 
548  73 
24-68 
518  28 
32-9I 
691  ir 
29'02 
609  42 
The  greatest  difference,  based  on  the  cost  of  the  gold  only,  . 
amounts  to  $244.02,  or,  by  eliminating  the  highest,  which  appears 
to  be  somewhat  abnormal,  the  difference  becomes  $162.33.  In 
other  words,  the  purchaser  of  100  ounces  of  the  article  containing 
the  smallest  per  cent,  of  gold  is  paying  $162.33  f°r  something  he  is 
not  getting.  In  this  case,  as  in  so  many  others,  the  cheapest  is  the 
most  expensive. 
THE  CULTIVATION  AND  ECONOMICS  OF  AGAVES, 
By  Frederick  Iy.  IvBwton. 
The  agaves  are  a  most  characteristic  group  of  plants  of  the  hot 
and  arid  regions  of  the  North  American  continent.  They  include 
the  largest  and  tallest  of  our  herbaceous  plants,  and  on  account  of 
their  size,  symmetry  and  elegant  proportions  were  well  named  by 
Linnaeus  from  the  Greek  "  Ayavrj"  signifying  noble,  admirable  or 
wonderful. 
