12 
BULLETIN 1194, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Containing over 60 per cent of crude protein, the embryo portion,, 
or kernel meal, is one of the richest natural protein concentrates in 
the vegetable kingdom, slightly surpassing the oil-free kernels of 
cotton seed and peanuts. 
The reporting of the satisfactory results obtained in this labora- 
tory experiment should not be construed as a proof of the commercial 
feasibility of the process. The fruit used had been very thoroughly 
dried at low heat and the first stage of the milling was conducted in a 
dry atmosphere. However, in the arid Southwest and for many 
months in the semiarid regions, the atmospheric conditions are ideal 
for such drying and milling. 
Table 7 gives the results of the analyses of the four samples of 
beans 8 that were separated into seeds and pods. In order to deter- 
mine the true composition of the entire fruit of material like mesquite 
beans it is necessary to first divide the sample into two portions, such 
as pods (high in sugar) and seeds (high in protein), and analyze the 
portions separately, because of the difficulty in weighing out a repre- 
sentative charge from a ground sample of the whole beans. The 
averages of all available results for the composition of pods and 
seeds are given in Table 7. 
Table 7 .—Average composition of pericarp and seed of mesquite beans. 
Sample No. 
Partially dry 
basis. 
Mois- 
ture. 
Pro- 
por- 
tion of 
entire 
fruit 
(by 
weight) 
Moisture-free basis. 
Ash. 
Ether C n ru n de 
extract te?n 
• 6.25). 
Crude 
fiber. 
Nitro- 
gen- 
free ex 
tract. 
Reduc- 
ing 
sugars 
as in- 
vert. 
Su- 
crose. 
Pento- 
sans. 
Entire pericarp (sugary pod 
and seed capsule portion): 
32869 
36452 
36453 
36454 
Arizona (3) J 
Hawaiian (2) 2 
Average (9 samples) 
Entire seeds: 
32869 
36452 
36453 
36454 
Arizona (3) ! 
Hawaiian (2) 2 
Average (9 samples) 
Per ct. 
10.97 
5.08 
1.87 1 
3.95i 
5.64i 
17. 82 
8.27J 
•5.73 
7.111 
5.66) 
4.98| 
7.81 
14.31 
8.39 
P. ct. 
83.42 
79.52 
87.41 
84.44 
73.10 
3 79. 16 
U6.58 
20.48 
12.59 
15.56 
26.90 
3 20. 84 
P.ct 
3.72 
4.73 
4.39 
4.68 
5.33 
3.54 
4.51 
P.ct 
1.48 
1.14 
.67 
L 
.17 
1.00 
4.13 
5.56 
3.04 
3.25 
6.09 
4.92 
4.90 
P.ct 
6.74 
7.17 
6.94 
7.09 
6.21 
6.78 
6.68 
35.79 
33. 85 
35.65 
34.73 
37.33 
37.23 
36.27 
P.ct 
37.39 
37. 43 
22.05 
35.37 
32.49 
25.99 
31.30 
7.53 
7.85 
7.59 
7.96 
6.60 
8.53 
7.53 
P.ct 
50.67 
49.53 
65.95 
51.93 
54.48 
63.52 
56.51 
48.87 
49.26 
49.32 
49.80 
46.49 
44.16 
47.23 
P.ct. 
4.01 
2.15 
3.05 
1.31 
■P.ct 
17.33 
20.45 
38.60 
23.74 
P. ct. 
19.06 
0.03 
.32 
None. 
None. 
2.01 
3.39 
2.32 
2.43 
11.12 
i Reported by Forbes (?) (3 samples). 
* Average figures reported by Shorey {19), with slight corrections for nitrogen-free extract (2 samples). 
» Average for 7 samples only. 
4 Calculated,assumingthatallmaterialnot pericarp consists of seed. The results differ somewhat from 
those for the seed material actually recovered. 
In connection with the San Antonio experiments (p. 6), an 
attempt was made to separate by mechanical means the previously 
dried and ground fruit, or mesquite bean meal, into portions represen- 
tative of the pods, husks, and seeds. The best that could be accom- 
s Samples 32869, 36452, 36453, and 36454 represent beans from Texas, Arizona, and California, the com- 
position of the entire fruit of which is reported in Table 2. 
