Page:Tree Crops; A Permanent Agriculture (1929).pdf/116

 botanical and economic aspects that they commonly are and should be classed together.

Perhaps adequate testing will show that both mesquite and screw bean have their places in a reasonably scientific agriculture for the semi-arid lands.

This combination of the above-mentioned qualities, productivity of trees, ability to stand drought and frost, and good analysis of beans and their appetizing quality, certainly makes reasonable the statements of the scientists and ranchmen of the southwestern plateaus that the mesquites are worthy of experimentation and gives reason for Mr. Forbes' belief that gathering beans on a commercial scale "seems to be practicable in some parts of the country." In considering all these statements it should be remembered these are wild plants, quite unimproved either by propagation of the best strains or by breeding.