Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1915-01-08
DEsPIsED MESQUITE IS
An IMPORTANT GROWTH

There is probably no tree in the
entire area of the southwest better
known than the mesquite or less APP
preciated. While il has had little
value from the lumberman's point of
view, il is nevertheless one of the
most important trees in the state.
Perhaps its greatest value has been
for fuel. II has cooked more food.
warmed more homes. baked more
bricks than any other single variety
of wood in the southwest. II is II
matter of common knowledge that
the area of the mesquite is spread
ing and that il has within the past
fifty or sixty years gradually en-
croached on the grassy prairies. This
Is to be accounted for by the aban-
donment Of the old Indian custom of
burning the grass land to keep it
open. Much of the area now occu-
pied by mesquite cannot he spoken
of strictly as forests, for the growth
is more shrubby than almost any
other forests known. The tree is.
however, capable of developing II
trunk two or three feet in diameter
and three to twelve feet of clear log.
IL Texas along the lower Rio Grande
such trees are not uncommon. We
may think therefore of the ragged
shrubbery thickets which have de-
veloped during the past few years as
forests in the making. Doubtless il
undisturbed they would become real
forests of mesquite.
That mesquite is well adapted to
the srm-nrid regions of the south
west is evidenced by its universal
distribution in this area. Prehaps
its chief adaptation is in its root
habits and in the small amount of
leaf surface which il displays to the
whitening sun. Whenever n plant is
unable to take in more water through
the roots than is given off by the
leaves il must will and perish. The
roots penetrate To greater depths
than any other forest tree known.
Depths of fifty to sixty feet have
been reported. II was n knowledge
of this habit of the mesquite that
guided the railroad engineers of the
"Staked Plains in selecting the DO.
sition to bore for water.
The wood is very hard, brittle.
close grained and the heart wood is
n beautiful brown. The finished wood
closely resembles black walnut and
may be used for the same purposes.
1t is. however, so hard that furni-
ture makers experience difficulty in
working il with ordinary tools.
The heart wood is very resistent
to decay when placed in contact with
the soil. Ii is very satisfactory for
ties and fence posts. A tim.
Der taken from the Alamo at San
Texas. was said To have
served 100 years without any signs
If decay. 1t was set apart for the
of souvenirs. This
wood promises to find place in the
manufacture of novelties. II is well
suited for gavels, curtain rings, COB.
cts. trays. etc. II has also been used
% some extent for gun stocks and
'pindles for grills and stairways.
There are many other uses for the
products of the tree. The pods fur
'lsh Il I'd for cattle, and il is in this
way that the seeds are principally
scattered. The Mexicans know how
% make bread and brew beer from
he fruit; tan leather with the resin:
I've leather, cloth and crockery with
he sap: make ropes and baskets of
he bark. Parched pods are n sub
titute for coffee: bees store honey
rom the bloom. which remains two
months on the tree; riled water is
purified with detection of mesquite
hips; vinegar is made from the fer
nenfed Juice of the legumes: tomaleS
I mesquite bean meal; mucilaee
rom the gum, and candy and gum
rops from the dried sap. The tree
also used in parts of its range
$ shade tree. II will doubtless in
i'm be cleared from all of the land
make way for more valuable
routh resistant crops, but it has
layed an important part in the lives
I the pioneers of the soutbwest