Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-04-13
The AOOunding Tree Of These Islands is
kiSnamtd.


not fully appreciated as it should
be. II is true some spasmcdic
and happy 90 lucky sort Of atten -
ton has been given toward ex-
tending its occupancy of pasture
and waste lands, but nothing that
Its value warrants has been done
in this direction.
Commencing with the blossom
which yields a most delicious and
abundant honey, that can scarcely
be equaled for its whiteness, il can
lay claim 10 our attention on this
score alone. The value of this
tree as forage plant for bees--
growing as it does on any soil, as
the salty waste lands along the
coast or the coral reef with scarce.
ly soil enough to cover the chance
seed that may be deposited upon it,
with as great apparent luxuriance
AS upon the better lands-would
alone warrant its extended plant
ing, Then add to this, its value
for fuel and shade, and the wond-
erfully nutritious seed pod so
valuable to all kinds of live stock.
and we have few trees that could
be more profitable to plant. The
seed pods of this tree have shown
by analysis % to 2S per cent of
grape sugar, IL to IL per cent
starch, Z to IL per cent protein,
and of other non heterogeneous
nutritive substances, IA to "a per
cent. Thus we have from 81 to
80 per cent of food value in the
seed pods of this tree. No wond-
er that animals, not accustomed
to eating it, become fouudered or
have other i'll results when allow
ed to eat too freely of it, and it is
due to its food value, more than to |
the native grasses growing be-
meath its shade, that the animals
in pastures where it grows show
such sleek coats and well rounded
sides.
A value this tree has in other
countries-.and why not here p
is the production of tanning ma
terial. lie the money worse than
wasted on the "canaigre enter
prise" on these islands had been
devoted to experimenting with
this product and other tannin
producing trees of the islands,
valuable industry might have been
developed-of which | shall have
more to say in the future. This
tree and others of allied species
yield algarobylla bark, the com
mercial product used for tanning.
The leaves also are rich ia tannin,
often containing as high as 20 per
cent. The pods also of several
species are rich in taunin.
A variety of algarobia (Proso-
pis glandulosal growing in Texas
yields gum almost equal to gum
arabic, which is quite an article of
commerce there, and the wood is
very hard, having the appearance
of mahogany when polished. The
introduction and experimenting
with some of these different varie-
ties might result in finding a vari
ETY. suited to the windwsrd side of
the islands, and | am expecting to
receive seed of a very hardy vari-
ETY. of this tree, to make the trial
with.
There is a widespread confusion
OF the algarobia (Prosopis dulcis),
the common tree here, with |
the algaroba (not al
garobia) of southern Europe,
which is Ceratonia Siligua, another
family. This is the Carob-tree of
Mediterranean regions, the pods
OF which are popular sweet
meat, especially with children, in
European countries, being known
as "St. Johns Bread" from the
fact that the disciples in early
New Testament times made use of
it for food. Some writer's also
claim it was the pod of this tree,
which is alluded to in the Scrip
lures as "locusts" in speaking of
the diet of "locusts and wild honey"
AS the tree is allied to the locust
family-and not the insect known
as locust, that was used as food in
those days, which seems quite
rational Interpretation.
The pods of this tree are very
mnch larnar of q dark hrnmn nnlor