THE ALGAROBA TREE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 8

THE ALGAROBA TREE.

NOT SUITED TO NEW ZEALAND. The Minister for Agriculture was asked . by Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., whether his attention has been called to the great value of the algaroba tree as a producer of stock-feed in dry areas; and, if so, will he tako steps to experiment with this tree in tho parts of New Zealand where tho land is poor and tho rainfall not heavy. Mi , . Poolo explained that in ! th-9 Hawaiian Islands the valuo of the beans from this tre: is very great, for it returns about 1 tons per acre per annum where the rainffill is not more : than lOin. per year; and tbo beans are > very palatable to all kinds of stock. In his reply tho Minister said that the aljuaroba bean is tho product of a tree (Prosopis) of which the several species are native of tropical or subtropical countries. The plant has been tried in 1 Nelson, but the climato was not warm I, enough. A further trial might be made ■ in the North Auckland district, but it • is not likely that the- tree will succeed in auy part of New Zealand proper. . An example of prolific breeding upon the part of ewes this season has occurred . at Bluir (says the Bin IF "Press"). A threot year-old ewe belonging to Air. .1. C. lmlay Rave birth to two lambs Inst season, but evidently uot satisfied with the performance in these days of declining birth■l rate, went two better this yenr. priving s birth to no less tlian four. As all are doing well. lit. linlny can boast the re- ■- corrf lambing percentage of four hundred a per cent. Good percentages iiro being y reported iu all parts of Otago and Southland. ■ •