GENERAL SLK\I:Y OF TEXAS WOODLANDS. 39 



THE COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF MESQUITE. 



By H. B. Krausz.* 



The Forestry Department made an extensive reconnaissance of the 

 mesquite areas in South Texas during the summer of 1916. The study 

 had for its object a determination of the possibilities of mesquite as a 

 commercial timber and attempts to answer .questions relative to the 

 location and extent of areas of suitable growth, the size and quality of 

 the timber adaptable for manufacturing purposes, the available quantity 

 on areas located with reference to cheap logging, and the probable cost 

 of logging and shipment to San Antonio for manufacturing purposes. 



DISTRIBUTION AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MESQUITE. 



It is probable that mesquite first invaded Texas, from the region 

 adjacent to Matamoras in Old Mexico, a century and a half ago. Since 

 that time its spread has been very rapid. At present a more or less 

 scattered growth of mesquite is found over practically the entire State, 

 except the Great Plains proper in Northwest Texas and that portion of 

 eastern Texas lying east of the lower reaches of the Brazos River, the 

 Navasota River throughout its entire length, and the upper reaches of 

 the Trinity River and its North Texas tributaries. (See Map 9.) The 

 rapidity and extent of its spread are due to the abundance of its seed, 

 the vigor of the young trees, lack of competition between the seedlings 

 and native grasses because of overpasturing and burning, and the fact 

 that live stock are the primary agents in transporting the seed. 

 quite is not able to compete with other native trees for the more favor- 

 able situations but is forced to occupy low or level areas of fine, com- 

 pact, less porous soils. Notwithstanding the unfavorable growing sit- i 

 nations, however, sufficient moisture is supplied to the tree through 

 its heavy, extensive root system. It is not uncommon to find the greater 

 proportion of a mesquite under rather than above the ground. Unusually 

 moist soils, on the other hand, seem to limit the occurrence of the mes- 

 quite. This is particularly true in the southern portion of its range. 

 Areas immediately adjacent to the streams support a growth of native 

 hardwoods, the largest mesquite occurring on what might be termed 

 the second benches and dwarfed, scrubby mesquite occupying the higher, 

 drier sites. The inability of mesquite to endure shading, as compared 

 with the native hardwoods, may be another factor operating to exclude 

 the former from the more favorable situations. 



Since associated species are almost invariably small in diameter and 

 scrubby in growth, from a volume standpoint mesquite may be said to 

 grow in pure stands. Individual trees sometimes attain a diameter of 

 three feet, but by far the greater percentage will average less than one 

 foot. Within its range the heaviest stands and the largest individuals 



* Forestry Assistant, Office of State Forester, College Station, Texas. 



