Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-07-29

impenetrable. Both the leaves and root
yield fibre from which thread, cloth, cord
age and paper are made. From its root is
produced tho famous PulQue, dear to the
heart Of every Mexican as lis lager beer to
tho Teutonic race. The root is dug, buried
in hot embers until thoroughly roasted,
and then macernted in cold water. The
liquid then has tho taste of honey and
water, and when fermentcd is called I'uhgue
When at tho full point of fermentation it
is sometimes distilled into kind of brandy
called mescal. Compared with this fiery
fluid 'Jersey lightning, is mild rs mothers
milk, yet it is n G.vorito beverage with tho
gutta-Dcrcla throatcd Grcascrs.
Tho Century Plant now about to flower
ut Frost a. Co.'s Gcncseo Valley Nurseries,
is tho Agnuc americana .foliu ,urie1,uta, or
striped-lcavcd American nloe 1--WE believe
none OF this variety have ever lowered in
this country before.) It is now about
seventy years old, and was purchased by
tho lato Hon. John Greig, OF Canandai
qua, New York, in tho year $780,
from Princes Garden, Flushing, L. l., and
ut that time was supposed to be nine or ten
years old. Owing TO its large size and be-
ing so unwie]dy, it was sent to Rochester,
and placed in Frost d Co., green house
about tie year 1856, and has been in their
possession ever since. On the 25th
April, 1869, indications of its Towering
were observed, and Frost Il Co., being
gratificd at tho 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.
Tho 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 Platform has
been erected from which better Wow of
tho flowers can be obtained when in por-
lection.
This plant contains thirty leaves, which
average about six feet six inches in length.
the whole circumference of the plant being
fully thirty feet. The stem measures four
inches in diameter. Tho present length of
tho hower-stem is about eighteen feet
Nineteen branches are visible, the lower
one being eleven feet from the base Of the
stem.
Messrs. Frost & Co. have received aur1er@.
Gus tempting offers to renloNe9thc plant TO
other points for exhibitimr None of these
have been accepted, the proprictors, with n
commendable spirit of local pride, consid-
ering it MS belonging to Rochester, the City
- ".
1t is presumed that after it has remained
here long enough to give all an opportuni-
ty of viewing it, it may be taken to the
fair of the American Institute in New York,
but at present this is not decided on. A
slight admission tee is charged for seeing
it. This is rendered necessary by the fact
that man is continually employed in at
tending it; to say nothing Of the expense
involved in building house for its express
accommodation.
1t may not be ont Of place to mention en-
passant that within tho same house with
tho Century Plant, is another floral curios-
ity only second to the former in interest
This is o Noisette rose bush of the La
Narque variety, hundred and fifty feet in
length and five inches in diameter lat the
base. It has borne fifteen hundred roses
Mt once and is almost constantly in bloom.