ALOE IN FLOWER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14328, 19 October 1910, Page 6

ALOE IN FLOWER.

' FIRST TIME IN 70 lEAI-S. At the Zoological Gardcm. J!cge„t's I'aru. t sitors mav n"w e'.'e 'he 'are sight-of an alee m bloom: This specimen, «Inch stands about -ill. high, and is shooting upwards rapidly, is a plant of .symmetrical growth, with huge fleshy leaves, furnished with large spines, and disposed naturally in the shape ci immense rosettes. The leaves contain-a strong fibre, which is valuable for ropo-mskmg, and the expressed juiea may be used as a substitute for soap. It may also be manufactured into a liquor like cider. it- bas been called the "century piant," from the belief that it flowers only once in 10s) years. It is a fact that if takes many years t-o c.me to maturity, in some eases extending to seventy yee.r.-:. It flowers but erne.

and then dies. The Zoo is fot'lnuale in Laving a second example of this very rare ileweriug plant, for it is just four years age, since a similar occurrence took r'.aee there. A siiee'iueii of the aloe bloomed in Victoria Park' ten years ago. when it was found necessary to remove a pane of glass from the'roof of the house i;i which it was growing, so that the stem mi'dii: have space to grow upwards. The crown of blossoms in t.h's instance towered above the roof. At Kcw Gardens, about tvre.nty-four years ago, a similar method had to be adopted when the aloe bloomed th-re. The flowers when in full bloom are a sight worth going a. long way to see, not only on. account of the nuiauifieetifc golden blossoms, but also because of the rariiv -of blooming in tlrs counttry.