AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



157 



man riding through the mesquite region on the train, for the first time, 

 remarked that he had never seen such extensive peach orchards in his 

 life. The tiee is much branched and spreading in habit and is the source 

 of fuel for the inha1:)itants of the region. Live stock also are fond of the 

 leaves and pods and the Indians of the Southwest eat the seeds, first 

 grinding them into meal and baking them. 



The same or a closely related species is common in Hawaii, where it 

 is known as algaroba. There it is one of the most important sources of 

 honey. (See Hawaii). This species is sometimes called honey-pod or 

 honey-locust, although the true honey-locust is a very different tree. 



Mesquite is one of the most important sources of honey in the Southwest. 



In the desert regions of California it is an important source of large 

 quantities of honey, as it is in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In south- 

 west Texas mesquite is the principal source. The honey is light amber 

 and of good quality. Beekeepers report that it is lighter in color some 

 years than others, even though nothing is blooming at the same season, so 



