1870.] 
SOI 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
The Mezquit Tree. 
Those who have read accounts of travel in 
'Western Texas and the adjacent regions, have 
noticed the frequent mention made of the Mez¬ 
quit. In many parts of the country it is the 
mezquit tree.— (Frosopis glandulosa.) 
prevailing tree, and, without which, these re¬ 
gions couldjiot be traversed with any comfort; 
as it is often the only resource for botli fuel and 
forage. The tree grows some 30 feet high, and 
sometimes, where it has a chance to develop, 
faring a regular spreading head, and resembles 
at a distance a large apple tree in its outline. 
More generally, probably from the attacks of 
insects and the injuries received from the Mis¬ 
tletoe, the tree is irregular in its form. Upon 
a closer inspection the foliage reminds one 
of the Honey-Locust, and the presence of strong 
spines, a pair at the base of each leaf, increases 
the resemblance. The shape of the leaflets va¬ 
ries considerably, as does their shade of green. 
The engraving gives the leaves, flowers, and 
fruit. The flowers are very minute and clus¬ 
tered in small, greenish-yellow spikes. The 
fruit is a bean, six inches or more in length, 
Y straight or somewhat curved. This pod at a 
certain stage of ripeness, is pulpy. The pulp 
is very sugary and often of pleasant flavor. At 
full maturity the pulp becomes dry and spongy, 
and still retains its saccharine character. The 
pods form a most acceptable food for horses and 
cattle, and are found of great service by travel¬ 
ers. The Indians and the poorer Mexicans 
make use of them to form a kind of pinole, a 
meal obtained by pounding and sifting the pods; 
this, though sweet, is accompanied by a taste 
which is nauseous to the civilized palate. The 
tree exudes a gum, which, in its qualities, is very 
much like Gum Arabic. It is used as a substi¬ 
tute for that gum by the Mexicans. The sap- 
wood of the Mezquit is yellowish, and the heart- 
wood of a reddish-brown color, as dark as black 
walnut. It is very hard, and in durability seems 
to be equal to the wood of the locust. For fuel, 
nothing can ex¬ 
ceed it in excel¬ 
lence; and a bed 
of live Mezquit 
coals makes in 
intensity of heat 
a near approach 
to anthracite. Up¬ 
on the plains, 
where frequent 
fires sweep over 
them, the Mez¬ 
quit appears only 
as a shrub a few 
feet in bight, and 
an inexperienced 
person would be 
in a straight for 
fuel. The old 
traveler, how¬ 
ever, regards the 
appearance of a 
Mezquit bush, 
however small, 
as a sign that a 
good fire is in 
prospect; and by 
the use of a grub 
hoe he soon un¬ 
earths roots as 
large as his leg, 
which make the 
most perfect fuel. 
The Mezquit has 
been proposed, in 
Utah, we think, 
as a hedge plant. 
It certainly pos¬ 
sesses many qual¬ 
ities which adapt 
it to that use, as 
any one who has ever had the misfortune to 
lose himself in a thicket of it can testify. Ex¬ 
periments are needed to ascertain how far north 
it will prove hardy. It will probably be found, 
as is the case with many other trees, to endure 
the winters much farther north than where it 
grows naturally. The Canadian River is the 
northernmost locality that we have seen men¬ 
tioned for it. The subject is one worthy the 
attention of those who live in the South-west, 
and we shall be glad to hear of the result of any 
experiments that have been made in this direc¬ 
tion. The tree is related to the Honey-Locust, 
though it belongs in a different suborder. Its 
systematic name is Prosopis glandulosa. 
Currants. —A well-known fruit grower once 
said to us, as we were discussing varieties of 
currants: “I can take the old Red Dutch, and 
treating it in my way, get $200 an acre more 
from it than from any other variety.” This 
seemed a pretty large statement, but upon see¬ 
ing the result of severe pruning and liberal ma¬ 
nuring upon some of our own bushes of Red 
Dutch, we think it was not much out of the way. 
This variety is superior to all others in flavor, 
and with proper treatment will rival them in 
size. Our friends’ “way” is judicious prun¬ 
ing, liberal manuring, and thorough cultivation. 
With these, this old sort, as well as the White, 
will attain a development and excellence in 
marked contrast with the fruit as ordinarily seen. 
Bowman’s Root, or Indian Physic. 
In a large collection of herbaceous perennials, 
there was nothing which attracted more atten¬ 
tion in June than a native plant which has re¬ 
ceived the rather inelegant name of Bowman’s 
Root or Indian Physic. Its botanical name is 
Gillenia trifoliata ; and we think that those who 
dislike botanical names will prefer to call this 
plant Gillenia, rather than by either of the Eng¬ 
lish names, which have a strong flavor of the 
shop. The plant is closely related to the Spi¬ 
ralis, and in its foliage resembles some of them. 
The stems are two to three feet high, several 
from a root, of a pleasing reddish color, and 
clothed with neat, dark-green foliage. The flow¬ 
ers form a large, loose cluster, one of which, 
much reduced in size, is given in the engraving. 
The buds are rose-colored, but the flowers are 
white, with sometimes a tinge of rose color. The 
appearanceof a plant when in flower is extreme¬ 
ly pleasing: the colors of foliage and stem pro¬ 
duce a fine effect,, and the quaint-looking flow¬ 
ers are supported by such slender stalks that at 
a little distance they appear as if floating in the 
air. The root is a powerful emetic, and having 
been more or less used as such, it has received 
the names we have already given as well as 
several others having reference to its medicinal 
properties. The Gillenia is found from New 
York southward, in woods and on the borders 
of rivulets. It flourishes better in the soil of the 
border than we have ever seen it when growing 
wild, as not having to struggle with other 
plants, it has a chance to develop its form. It is 
readily multiplied by dividing the roots, or by 
seeds, which should be sown as soon as ripe, 
as they will otherwise be long in germinating. 
rowman’s root, or Indian PHYSIC.— {Gillenia tnfoliala.) 
