During the youthful days of Honolulu, this algaroba 

 tree, Prosopis juliflora, stood forth in all its glory, 

 surrounded by many of its progeny, especially across 

 the street in the old Fort Street church yard. But 

 with the erection of the Fred Harrison block in 1906, 

 the tree was severely topped to make room for this 

 city improvement, and lately the demand for building 

 space of greatly increased value and the uncertainty 

 of how much longer the old tree, in its weakened con- 

 dition, would last, it finally had to make way for 

 the new Knights of Columbus building, "and the 

 place thereof shall know it no more." 



Perhaps no other tree the world over has had such 

 a remarkable history or has been responsible for 

 greater benefits than this original algaroba, for from 

 it. by the assistance of stock, there hasbe en establish- 

 ed, on the lee shores throughout these islands, forests 

 which now cover approximately 90,000 acres of what 

 used to be barren lands, but which by reason of this 

 tree now produce an annual crop of about 30,000 

 cords of excellent fuel wood, over $160,000 worth of 

 honey, and an enormous yield of beans, which furnish 

 a valuable fattening food for stock at a time when the 

 long, dry summer has exhausted the grass supply. 



On account of the economic position which it holds 

 in the island flora and the blessings which the 

 original tree, now gone, has showered on the inhab- 

 itants of the territory (aside from the native forest 

 trees which conserve our moisture), the algaroba tree 

 has well earned its place today as the most valuable 

 tree in Hawaii. C. S. J., 



Hawaiian Forester and Agriculturis 

 December, 1919. 



