4H ALGAROBA; OR, MESQUIT BEAN (PROSOPIS JULIFLORA). 
By G. B. BROOKS, 
Overseer, Kamerunga State Nursery. 
| many parts of Queensland there is, unfortunately, a period of the year when, 
|e to lack of moisture, the grass gets dry and parched, losing most of its 
| nike ment. In these localities the stock has to depend almost entirely on this 
] 4. ted herbage as a means of existence, and suffers in consequence. _ Some- 
a. . § that would come in useful and supply a stock food, even though in small 
p iRortions, at such a time, and would cost little or nothing by way of 
it, vation, ought to be of interest, and, at least, lay claim to a little attention 
} “the large stockowner to the small selector. 
‘nite this respect the Algaroba or Mesquit bean is worthy of consideration ; for 
‘TR from personal observation and information gathered from various sources 
te hd that this tree possesses qualities sufficient to draw it from its obscurity 
‘Y M Queensland, and to give ita place among those plants having a high 
mic value. 
q 
| ong 
| ire Det only is it a tree that will thrive and flourish in circumstances such as 
} tap cttbed above, where it is generally so difficult to obtain anything of the 
| thie of fodder, but it gives large crops of beans, valuable as stock feed, with 
I tity 3 fattening value, and, moreover, remains in bearing for some considerable 
Another point in its favour is that it supplies the food to the stock, so to 
ae automatically—that is, it drops its pods as soon as ripe, thus doing away 
‘ny labour or expense in picking and feeding by hand. 
Mi The Algaroba belongs to the large order of Leguminosea and sub-order 
te “ose, There are several species of this tree scattered over the warmer 
5l0ns of Asia, Africa, and America. The seed of the tree growing in the 
Merunga State Nursery came from Honolulu, where the tree is to be found. 
ts in large numbers. Some of the species only attain the shrub form ; 
39 fe Such as Prosopis juliflora, the one under notice, grows into a tree some 
nf 40 feet in height, and is, moreover, well armed with sharp spines or | 
aes The branches are pendulous or drooping ; and the leaves being small 
nth to the tree a rather graceful, feathery appearance. The flowers are 
tig re oa being small and of a yellowish-green colour, In fact, it is 
cult to tell a short distance off whether the tree is under bearing or not. 
it When ripe, the pods are of a buff colour, somewhat flat in shape, and from 
Dean Inches long, in appearance not altogether unlike the ordinary French 
mete pods haye many uses ascribed to them, but the most important one, 
ood e° to us in Queensland. is, as has already been pointed out, its value as a. 
a for stock. ‘This value lies in the pods being filled between the seeds with 
and. et mealy substance which is very nutritious, and of which horses, cattle, 
Pigs are very fond, the Nursery stock bearing this out. 
| tay According to various authorities, the Algaroba ripens its pods at different | 
, odes of the year, and is very prolific, each tree yielding many bushels of 
| m,.. Chis point has not yet been fully determined at this Nursery, the tree 
mg here being only five years old and under bearing for the first time ;. 
to beens it has already given fair promise of carrying out the qualities ascribed 
tiny. 1b commenced to ripen its pods in the end of November, and still con- i 
Nes under bearing up to date (28th February). | 
Dog Tr has been found impossible to keep a correct account of the quantity of 
igh Nipened, from the fact that one of the surface drains of the Nursery runs 
yoo under the tree, and the exceedingly heavy rains during the month of 
the lary (48:580 inches) were the means of carrying away a large quantity of 
"pe pods, as they fell from the tree, into the scrub adjoining the Nursery. 
