4 BULLETIN 1194, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
value of the beans was compared with that of corn over a period of 
76 days. During the first four weeks of the trial the ground mesquite 
beans were only 4 or 5 per cent less efficient than corn. Their effi- 
ciency decreased in comparison with corn, however, so that from the 
end of the fourth week to the end of the experiment, they were only 
about half as valuable, pound for pound, as corn. When grains 
were worth $1.50 per 100 pounds, the entire mesquite beans, properly 
ground and fed to pigs, were worth only 80 cents per 100 pounds. 
Foster and Garcia state that it has been "estimated'' that the entire 
bean, including the seed, contains the following quantities of diges- 
tible nutrients in 100 pounds: Crude protein, 8.34 pounds; carbo- 
hydrates, 54.02 pounds; fats, 2.4 pounds. These values compare 
favorably with those reported for barley. 
From an inconclusive feeding trial conducted by the Hawaii 
Department of Agriculture, Henke (14) concluded that the ground 
fruit possessed merit as a hog feed, but that the ration containing 
this material was not equal to a standard Corn-Belt ration. The 
unground pods seemed to be equal in fattening value to the meal, 
but these results were not considered conclusive. 
Few statements that the fruit of the mesquite exerts an injurious 
effect upon the health of animals eating it appear in the literature. 
After heartily indorsing the sound beans as food for stock, Abrahams 
(1) issued a vigorous warning against the baneful effects of the 
"cashaw" fruit after it has been damaged by soaking, with subse- 
quent decomposition. In an appended note it is stated that the 
pods described as "cashaw" proved to be those of Prosopis juliflora. 
Robertson (17) has suggested that the deleterious effect of fermented 
pods is due to sprouting of the seeds. Goss (11) mentions that 
mesquite and tornillo beans 5 have a constipating effect upon 
animals. 
On the other hand, most writers emphasize the eagerness with 
which mesquite beans are eaten by stock of all kinds. Griffiths (12) 
states that in southern Arizona ^ mesquite forms much of the feed 
during hard times, not only in spring and early summer while it is 
succulent and green, but also in the winter, when it ordinarily would 
be considered worthless," and that when pastures along the Santa 
Cruz were very short not only the pods but the leaves were eaten 
by cattle. Brown, however, states that browsing animals do not 
readily eat the foliage of the mesquite (5). 
In Hawaii as early as 1906, Shorey (19) reported that mesquite 
beans were assuming an important place among local feedingstuffs. 
Wilcox (24) states that "the algaroba, or kiawe (Prosopis juliflora), 
is commonly recognized as the most valuable tree which has thus 
far been introduced into the Territory of Hawaii." He continues: 
The pods are everywhere recognized as one of the most important grain feeds of 
the islands and are greatly relished by all kinds of livestock, including chickens. 
* * * Their (the beans') feeding value has long been recognized from the prac- 
tical results obtained. As a feeding material there seems to be only one objection 
to them, and that is a slight flavor given to milk when the beans are fed in excess 
to the dairy cows. This objection, however, could be overcome by feeding the 
beans after milking, rather than before milking. 
' The tornillo, or screw-pod mesquite (P. pubcsccns, Benth.), is closely related to the common mesquite. 
