Arizona republican., 1907-09-25
YUCCAS AND AGAVfS
 AND THEIR STORIES
There Are Some Interesting Points About Them Besfae Their Thorns.

Not the least interesting feature of
 the shrubbery on the capitol grounds.
 is the large collection of native Ari
 Zona plants of what might for its sug-
 gestiveness be called the 'thorny"
 class. Generally speaking the funny
 men have said that nothing can or does grow in Arizona without it is cov- cred with thorns. That is not misrep- resentation but cold blooded libel.
 However Arizona probably has about
 as many plants of that kind. perhaps
 more if the truth were known. than any other section on earth, in addition
 to all those which do not have thorns.
 But this is a thOrny story strictly for the writer tore a thumb half off the other day in getting the facts. under the direction of Superintendent Smith who insisted that his unsupported word
 be not taken when there/was SO much
 painful truth lying around and this is no lie either.
 Mir. Smith was merely remarking on
 his appreciation of the favors of per
 sons living in other parts of the terri
 tory, who from time to time send him
 in rare specimens of native plants.
 Recently he received through the cOur-
 tesy of the wife of Colonel Stevens of
 Fort Huachuca some specimens of
 plant belonging to the agave family. and named Huachucaensis. It is a very attractive variety and, is quite rare, or rather it is not common sll over the territory. It is however one of the most conspicuous of the native
 plants in tbe vicinity of Fort Hua- chuca- Mir. Smith said that while he could not be sure about il he has heard it said that the plant is older by name than the fort and that it's prevalence in that vicinity is the fact which gave the fort its name.
 Two other recent arrivals at the cap itol grounds are through the kindness of Engineer Johnson oT the London and Arizona Mining company at Win kelman. These specimens are allied to the Yucca plants and are Of the vavi- ety known as Dasylerion. They are very fine ornamental plant and not very common one, not being krown in this valley heretofore so far as Mir. Smith is informed. They have long leaves with spines at the terminus and of course with "stickers'' the entire length of the margin. Mir. Johnson also sent among other plants a speci- men of the aloe variegata which is q very attractive plant.
 Though there are scores of thorny specimens of one kind and another on the capitol grounds the collection is far from complete and Mir. Smith is add ing to it at every opportunity. There is one other big fine and formidably armed variey of the Yucca growing there that is desrving of special mem tiOn by reason of its historical name. It is called "Whipplei." being named after General Whipple after whom Fort Whipple was also named. Whether this name was given it because of the pioneer soldiers prominence in Ari- Zona at that time, or whether it was through the bringing of the worlds att tention to the plant through some ef- fort of General Whipple or some one in his command is not known. This is not exactly a rare plant but it is by no means a very common one. The | only place that MT Smith knows of | where 1t grows extensively Is in the ! of Wickenburg. It was used i largely by the Indians in the early | days for basket weaving. The long | leaves by a process of semifermenta- ton after soaking in water, were de- spoiled of their pulp by whipping, | which left long and strong fibre for | weaving. Many basket makers of these | days would be glad to have a large | quantity of it.
 Speaking of the Yucca plants in gen. eral Mir Smith says there are a great | many varieties and most of them are for one reason or another. He says that in riding from Ash Fork to San Diego he noticed from the car ten distinct varieties. Be w'een Ash Fork and Albuquerque oth- er varieties are found while down in southern Arizona are still other va -ieties. A complete collection of Ari- zona's thorny plants would make a display.