. The Cuba review. THE CUBA REV IE W 25 THE VALUE OF THE ALGARROBA A MOST USEFUL TREE—THE PODS ARE AN IMPORTANT GRAIN FEED— TWO CROPS ANNUALLY The algarroba tree flourishes in the West Indies. It thrives best in dry localities and is somewhat sensitive to salt air. Nevertheless at Lanai, Hawaiian Islands, there are fine trees within a few hundred feet of the sea-shore. While it also thrives best at low altitudes, it is everywhere ex- tending to higher levels, in some localities as high as 2,000 feet. There are few trees so distinctly useful for many purposes. Its flowers furnish an important s
. The Cuba review. THE CUBA REV IE W 25 THE VALUE OF THE ALGARROBA A MOST USEFUL TREE—THE PODS ARE AN IMPORTANT GRAIN FEED— TWO CROPS ANNUALLY The algarroba tree flourishes in the West Indies. It thrives best in dry localities and is somewhat sensitive to salt air. Nevertheless at Lanai, Hawaiian Islands, there are fine trees within a few hundred feet of the sea-shore. While it also thrives best at low altitudes, it is everywhere ex- tending to higher levels, in some localities as high as 2,000 feet. There are few trees so distinctly useful for many purposes. Its flowers furnish an important source of pure honey, as there are two crops of blossoms annually. As a forage crop the algarroba is of far greater financial value. The pods, of which there are two crops annually, are recognized as one of the most important grain feeds and are relished by all kinds of live stock, including chickens. It has been estimated that approximately 500,000 bags of the beans are annually picked up and stored, particularly for feeding horses and cattle. As a feeding material there seems to be only one objection to them, and that is, a slight flavor is given to milk when the beans are fed in excess to the dairy cows. This objection, however, could be overcome by feeding the beans after milking, rather than before milking. The whole pods of the algarroba show the following percent- age composition: Water , protein , fat .58, nitrogen free extract , crude fibre , ash The seeds alone, how- ever, have the following percentage compo- sition : Water , protein , fat , nitrogen free extract , crude fibre , ash There is a hard case surrounding each seed, making it necessary to crush them in order to make them digestible. The or- dinary grinding mills will not do, owing to the large amount of sugar in the pods clog- ging the machiner}', and yet cracking the seeds is necessary, tests at the agricultural station at Hawaii showing that seeds th
Size: 2006px × 1246px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthormunsonsteamshipline, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
