Imperial Valley press., 1932-03-04
PRIZE WINNING
ESSAYS in CITY
TREE CONTEST

editors S NOte-This is the essay
which was awarded first prize by
the tree-planting committee of the
Ell Centro Chamber of Commerce
in the contest for the best compo-
Sition on the palo verde tree. The
contest was open to all grammar
school children of Ell Centro and
Evelyn Russell, seventh grade of
Wilson school, was awarded first
prize because hers was the best
composition in true essay form.
Other prize winning essays will ap-
pear later)
The palo verde tree is much like
the camel, the ship of the desert"
which is protected and provided
for, in many resourceful ways. It
is protected from animals climbing
and destroying it by sharp thorns
or little dagger-like spines which
come extending out on the trunk,
limbs and smaller branches. The
odor protects it from small bugs
or insects eating and running it or
harming it in any manner or way.
This tree is strong. sturdy and
enduring and can not be easily
blown down in sandstorms because
Of its complex root system. These
roots spread out in every direction
being as powerful as the arms of
an octopus They extend deeply
into the ground which holds the
tree securely.
In another way It is much like
the camel, that it, it can go long
periods of time without water. 1t
does not lose its moisture through
it leaves as many plants do. The
leaves are reduced to tiny leaflets
arranged ON each side of a long,
slender stem. This stem hangs
diagonally to the sun and thus
avoids the direct rays.
The palo verde tree was first
found in Spain, but later has been
found in the washes of Colorado,
Arizona and New Mexico. The
name, palo verde, comes from the
Spanish, meaning green stick"
Its botanical name is Parkinsonia
Aculeata.
This tree grows about 8 to 16
feet high and quite bushy. The
bark is green and has a smooth,
shiny surface. The most beautiful
part about the tree is the flowers
or blossoms. They are of a bright
yellow. which reminds one Of
shower of star light, little specks
of gold sprinkled on the green
foliage. The bees swarm around
the flowers and get the sweet
honey. This is the trees method
of getting it's seeds polinated AS
the flowers drop off little pods ap-
pear which are frequently called
horse beans. They resemble the
string bean with the exception of
the color. They are OF dull brown
where the string bean is a yellow
greenish shade. The beans soon
fall to the ground where a moss
of little sprouts spring up from
which other palo verde trees de-
velop. These beans long ago were
eagerly gathered by Indians and
used for food. Desert animals also
eat them.
This tree has special advantages
over other trees for planting in
Imperial Valley. 1t does not take
the strength from the ground as
many plants do. 1t leaves the soil
much more fertile because the hull
off of the beans act as a fertilizer.
The palo verde belongs to the pea
family and doubtless enriches the
soil as other plants in that fam
lily do. Some trees, as the eucalp-
tus, take all of the strength ouS
of the ground and out of the lawn
but do not restore it in any way.
Many of these trees require much
more water than the palo verde
does. Most people of the valley go
out for the summer and all their
trees die from lack of water, but
the palo verde does not.
When you plant the palo Verde
you plant a tree that will provide
shade, shelter and will beautify
your home and city.