342 



he was also liberally educated in other lines and could converse 

 with keen intelligence on almost any subject. Surrounding him- 

 self with the best in literature and art he had the ability ably to 

 criticise both. Being more or less of a recluse and of a somewhat 

 erratic temperament, he had few intimate friends, but those who 

 knew him well appreciated the sterling qualities which he pos- 

 sessed. 



In Dr. Norgaard's death the live stock industry of this Territory 

 lost a sincere friend, an able adviser and director and the veteri- 

 nary profession a brilliant member. 



ALGAROBA SEED GERMINATION TESTS. 



By C. S. JuDD, Superintendent of Forestry. 



One often comes across the statement that the seed of the alga- 

 roba (Prosopis jiiliflora) when eaten by stock is not crushed, but 

 on passing through the alimentary system of the animal is rather 

 prepared for quick germination by the action of the digestive 

 fluids. To ascertain just w^hat eflfect this process has on the ger- 

 minating capacity of algaroba seed, a comparative test was under- 

 taken at the Government Nursery in Honolulu, beginning in De- 

 cember, 1919, with the results given below. 



The fruit of the algaroba, the most valuable lowland tree in the 

 Hawaiian Islands, consists of a yellow pod about 6 inches long 

 and half an inch wide, each pod containing about 20 seeds. Each 

 seed is immediately surrounded by a crustaceous envelope which 

 is enclosed in a thick spongy coat of sweet pulp. It is this sugary 

 content which makes the pod relished by animals. So hard and 

 tough is the protective parchment-like seed covering that in order 

 to secure the clean seed it is necessary to cut out each with a 

 sharp knife. 



For this test six different sets of seed, of 100 each, were used 

 and these were first treated in the following manner: 



No. 1. Naked seed, untreated. 



No. 2. Naked seed, placed in boiling water and 

 soaked for 24 hours. 



No. 3. Seed in parchment covering, untreated. 



No. 4. Seed in parchment covering, placed in boil- 

 ing water and soaked for 24 hours. 



No. 5. Naked seed, which had been passed through 

 a horse by feeding the beans. Upon re- 

 covery the seed was removed from the 

 parchment covering. 



No. 6. Seed in parchment covering which had 

 passed through a horse. 



After passing through the alimentary system it was found that 



