AGAVE, in botany, a genus of the Hex andria Monogynia class and order, of the natural order of Coronarim: it has no calyx ; the corolla is one-petalled and funnel-shaped ; the stamina are filiform the anthers linear; the pistillitm is an ob long gerrnen ; the style Worm; the stig ma headed and three cornered ; the peri carpium is oblong, and the seeds are nu merous. There are seven species, of which we shall notice the A. Americana, or great American aloe, whose stems, when vigorous, rise upwards of twenty feet high, (one in the king of Prussia's gitrden rose to forty feet,) and branch out on every side, so as to form a kind of pyramid, composed of greenish yel low flowers, which stand erect, and come out in thick clusters at every joint. The seeds do not come to maturity in England. When this plant flowers, it makes a beautiful appearance ; and it' it be protected from the cold in autumn, a succession of new flowers will he pro duced for nearly three months in favour able seasons. It has been a common er ror, that this plant does not flower till it is one hundred years old: the truth is, that the flowering depends on its growth ; so that in hot countries it will flower in a few years; but in colder climates the growth is slower, and it will be much longer be fore it shoots up a stem. The first that flowered in England is said to have been Mr. Cowell's at Hoxton, in 1729; but they have occurred so often since that time, that they are now scarcely considered as -rarities. Few of the variety with yellow.
edged leaves have yet blossomed. 'There are hedges of the common aFave in Spain, Portugal, Sicily, and Calabna; it flourish es also about Naples, and in other parts of Italy. The juice of the leaves, strain ed, and reducea to a thick consistence, by being exposed to the sun, may be mule up into balls by means of lye-ashes. It will lather with salt water as well as fresh. The leaves, instead of passing between the rollers of a mill, may- be pounded in a wooden mortar, and the juice brought to a consistence by the or by boiling. A gallon of juice will yield about a pound of soft extract The leaves are also used for scouring pewter, or other kitchen litensils, anc,". floors. In Al garvia, where pasture is scarce, they are cutin thin transverse slices, and given to oattle. The inward substance of the de cayed stalk will serve for tinder. The fibres of the leaves;separated by bruising and steeping in water, and afterwards heating them, will make a thread forcom mon uses. Varieties of the common American agave, with gold and silver striped leaves, are not now uncommon in the English gardens. The Karatto agave is a variety brought from St. Christo pher's, and the name is given to other species of this genus, and has leaves from 23 to 3 feet long, and about 3 inches broad, ending in a black spine, and mom erect than those of the others. This sort has
not flowered in England. Linnxus has separated this genus from the aloe, be cause the stamina and style are extended much longer than the corolla, and the corolla rests upon the germ. Besides, all the agaves have their central leaves closely folding over each other. and em bracing the flower-stem in the centre ; SO that these never flower till all the leaves are expanded, and when the flower is past, the plants die. Whereas the flower-stem of the aloe is produced on one side of the centre, annually, from the sarne plant, and the leaves are more expanded than in this ge nus.
AGE, in horsemanship, makes a consi derable point of knowledge, the horse being an animal that remarkably sliews the progress of' his years by correspon dent ;aerations in his body. We have the chief characteristics from his teeth. The first year he has only small grinders and gatherers, of a brighush colour, w Welt are called foal's teeth. The second year he changes his four foremost teeth, viz. two abos e and two belove, and they ap pear brom ner and bigger than the rest. The third year he changes the teeth next these, 1 caving no apparent foal's teeth fore, but two above, and two below, on each side, which are 211 bright and small. The fourth yearhe changes the teeth next these, and leaves no more foal's teeth be fore, but one above and below, on each side. The fifth year his foremost teeth are all changed, and tlie tuslies on each side are complete ; and those which suc ceed the last foal's teeth are hollow, with a small black speck in the middle, which is called the mark in the horse's mouth, and continues till he is eight years old. The sixth year there appear new tuslies, near which is visible some young flesh, at the bottom of the tush, the tuslies being white, small, short, and sharp. The se venth year his teeth are at their full growth, and the mark in his mouth ap pears very plain. At eight all his teeth are full, plain, and smooth, and the black mark but just discernible, the tushes looking more yellow than ordinaiy. The ninth his foremost teeth shew longer, broacier,yellower, and fouler, than before, the mark quite disappearing, and the tushes bluntish. At ten no holes are felt on the inside of the upper tushes, which, till then, are easily felt. At eleven his teeth are very long, yellow, black, and foul, and stand directly opposite each other. At twelve the teeth of his upper jaw hang over those of his under. At thirteen his tushes :ire worn almost close to his chaps, if he has been much ridden; otherwise they will be long, black, and foul.