The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-07-23
Tho Ceniury Plant.

which astronomers regard the coming
eclipse of the Sun, do the florists of the
country look forward to the blossoming of
the Century plant at Rochester, New York,
for to the North American eye the latter
phen omenon is even more rare than thefor
mer. The century plant IN its native soil
and climate of the tropics natures and pro-
duces blossoms in from ten to twenty years,
but in northern hothouses it takes more
than an ordinary human lifetime to bring
1T to its blossoming state. Hence it is only
as an exotic in which its period of bloom
gives it any title to the name by which we
designate it. We believe that in only one
or two instances has the plant ever bios
somed in our latitude, owing to the great
expense and time required to develop its
wonderful floral fruition.
A Rochester correspondent communicates
to the Buffalo Express an interesting ac-
count of the famous century plant, that is
Just now attracting SO much attention; and
also some remarks upon the natural histo-
ry of the species to which it belongs: q
THE AGAvE AMERICANA
Before proceeding farther it may not be
amiss to say a word about the species. of
which all have heard SO much and known
SO little. 1t is a native of the table lands
of tropical America, being found both north
and south of the dividing isthmus
Like all endogens the aloe forms its
growth from the inside instead of by con-
centric layers on the outside like oxegens.
The entire plant when not in bloom con-
sists of dubious root and long, narrow
fieshy leaves, each one terminating in a
sharp spine These leaves are radical and
sessile, that is they grow directly from the
root with no peduncle or stem. These
leaves are produced one at time A sim
gle leaf shoots from the centre the green
mass falling slowly over to a horizontal
position as it becomes developed. When it
has completed its entire growth and taken
its place in the green TUT which is all that
is visible of the plant, another begins to
grow AS soon as "a leaf begins
to make its appearance the outer extremi-
ties of Tie leaves Immediately beneath it
spread themselves slowly apart making
space for their new companion, 0hich in
due course of time it exactly fills, thus pre-
serving the perfect symmetry, of the plant.
Year by year this process continues, the
plant all the time storing up the strength
for its eliminating and final effort of flow
ering. AS Mr.. Frost remarks down some
where in the base of every dgdUe we can
imagine the germ of the future fower-stem
which is waiting for accumulated strength
to shoot up into majestic growth.
When the time has arrived for it to
bloom-which is from ten to twenty years
in its native regions, but under our colder
SKY is three-quarters of a century-a stem
appears directly in the center of the mass
of foliage. 1t bears an exact resemblance
to the stem of an asparagus. This event
ually attains height of from fifteen to
thirty feet. But when it has reached about
half it's full growth, mass of buds is
formed at the point, looking something
like rather loose head of caulif1ower
When the mass of buds is fully Termed it
bends down to horizontal position, and
the central stalk proceeds to grow upward,
stopping at every few inches to de-
velop a panicle of buds and send
| them out horizontally In the same
symmetrical manner that is observed in the
growth of the leaves. Each lateral peduncle
continues to increase in length until the
panlcle of flowers at its extremity is fully
| open. The clusters contain from fifty to
| two hundred flowers. Of course the lower
arms being first formed attain the greatest
| length. When it Las reached its extreme
height, and flowers are fully open, it resem-
| bles an immense floral candelabrum.
From three thousand to six thousand flow
ers are borne at once. 1t remains in
| bloom two or three months In the mean
time the heshy leaves are entirely absorbed
to sustain this growth. The flowers are
in form like lilies, about five inches in
length. Their color is of greenish sui
phur hue. While in full bloom a sweet
juice exudes in abundance from the flow
ers. When gathered and bottled it un der
goes the regular process of vinous and
acetic fermentation, being first rather
agreeable cordial, and afterward rank
smelling vinegar. When the blossoms
wither and fall, the central stem gradually
dries up, becoming similar in texture to
bamboo, and portions of it are used as
razor homes.
| The plant has now completed the cycle
of its being, and nothing remains but the
| dubious root, from which a new growth of
leaves are produced In due course of time
To the inhabitants of tropical America
the AgaUe is an extremely useful plant. 1t
is set III hedges, which are permanent and
Impenetrable. Both the leaves and root
yield fibre from which thread, cloth, cord
age and paper are made. From its root is
produced the famous Pul9ue, dear to the
heart of every Mexican as is lager beer TO
the Teutonic race. The root is dug, buried
in hot embers until thoroughly roasted.
and then macerated in cold water The
| liquid then has the taste of honey and
water, and when fermented is called Pllloue
When at the full point of fermentation it
is sometimes distilled into kind of brandy
called mescdL Compared with this fiery
fluid 'Jersey lightning, is mild as mothers
milk, yet it is tavorite beverage with the
gutta-percha throated Greasers.
| The Century Plant now about to flower
at Frost q Co.'S Genesee Valley Nurseries,
is the AgaUe americana folia uariegata, or
| striped-leaved American aloe 1--WE believe
none of this variety have ever lowered in
this country before 1t is now about
seventy years old, and was purchased bv
the late Hon. John Greig of Canandai-
qua, New York, in the year 1902
from Princes Garden, Flushing, L. l., and
at that time was supposed to be nine or ten
years old. Owing to its large size and be-
ing so unwieldy, it was sent to Rochester,
and placed in Frost &c Co., green house
about the year 1856, and has been in til cir
possession ever since. On the 25th O
April, 1869, Indications of its towering
were observed, and Frost & Co., being
gratified at the idea of seeing it bloom,
were determined to particularly observe the
growth of the flower stem, and accordingly
have kept daily journal of its progress
since the 9Th of May.
The roof of the greenhouse has been
raised thirty feet to allow of the excessive
growth of this majestic plant; and for the
accommodation of visitors a platform has
been erected from which better view of
the flowers can be obtained when in per-
feotion