Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/391

MESPELBRONN. 357 MESSA DI VOCE. MESPELBRONN, Jilius Kchtee von. See .Jli.it s Iaiiiku MJ. jMksI'ELBBONX. MESQUITE imes-ke'ta) GRASS (Sp. mez- quite: |iiijl)alily iif .Mtxican oiif-iii). A name ap- plied to a miiiiLiLT of low grow iug tultcd grasses that occur in greater or less abundance upon the e.teiisivc ranges of the western and southwestern parts of the L'nited States. Species of Aiistida Hlld Bouteloua are among the mesquite grasses. Curly mesquite is IJilnria cenchroidcs. It forms a dense sward with leafy stems a few inches to a fool liigh. It matures standing, as do the otiier species, and is cxcclh'nt fodder until rotted by the winter rains. hilc valuable for grazing, it is too low growing to be cut for liay. MESQUITE TREE {Pronopis juli flora). A shrub or tree belonging to the natural order LeguniinosiC. found from central Texas to east- ern California, and southward through iloxico and Central .merica to Chile and Argentina, and also in .Jamaica. It is also known as honey locust, honey jjod. algaroba. and has been intro- duceil in the Hawaiian Islands, where it is highly prized for its timber, shade, and for its pods. which are an im[)ortanl stock food. In the United States the tree attains its best develop- ment in the valleys of western Texas, New Jlexi- co. and Arizona. In some jjlaces it is the only tree. According to its surroundings, the mes- quite varies from a straggling, spiny shrub to a widely branched tree 50 feet high and .'J feet in diameter, the latter size being attained in rich valleys, where water is available to the deeply penetrating roots. When once established it withstands extreme heat and drought. The wood is exceedingly durable, and is much used for posts, house foundations, and similar structures. MESQUITE TREE. as well as for fuel. The leaves, which are eaten by stock, have about the .same composition as alfalfa hay. The pods, which grow in clusters of from 2 to 10, and are from 4 to 8 inches long, are slender, white or yellow, contain a number of small hard seeds, and are rich in sugar, on which account they are eagerly eaten by cattle, horses, and mules. When eaten with- out preparation, much of the nutritive value is lost, since the seeds are voided without being digested ; but when gathered, dried, and ground. their value is greatly increased, since the nitro- genous beans are saved. Two forms of gum are produced by the mesquite tree. One, resembling gum arable, e.xudes as small clear or amber-col- ored drops from the trunks. It makes an excel- lent mucilage, and has been employed in laun- dries and for confectionery. The other, ob- tained from wounds in the trunks, occurs in black, brittle, larger masses. It contains as much as 20 per cent, of tannin, and with some form of iron is used by the Mexicans as a black dye- stuif. During the lloweriug period, which lasts for about two months, the trees are visited bv bees for the abundant nectar, which nuikes a clear honey of very agreeable llavor. ^Mexicans make a cathartic by pounding the inner bark in water and adding salt to the mixture. A second species, Prosopis piibesceiis, is known as the screw bean or curly mesquite. It is a shrub or small tree growing in situations similar to the previous one. Its pods are spirally curled into close rigid c.vlinders. The uses of this species are verv similar to those described above. MESS (OF. mes, Fr. mets, It. messo, messa, course at table, from Lat. missus, past part, of mittere, to send). A militar.v and naval term originallv signifying a dish or portion of food, but now used in the sense of a number or asso- ciation of oHicers or men taking their meals to- gether. The officers' mess of an arm.v post in the United States Army can onlv be established, or have quarters assigned for such purpose, when a majority of its officers, who must be not less than three in number, unite in a mess. When- ever possible the enlisted men mess together by companies. An officer appointed bv the post commander has charge of the general mess affairs, makes necessary 'purchases, and cares for the mess fund. The s.ystem of messing, as regards the soldier, is practically the same throughout Europe, vary- ing in comfort and food according to the country and army organization. On board men-of-war the admiral messes alone or with the captain, if agreeable to both. The ward-room mess includes all ward-room officers. The junior officers (ensigns — if not in the ward room — naval cadets, pay clerks, etc.) have a separate mess room, as have also the warrant officers (boatswains, gunners, carpenters, war- rant machinists, pharmacists). The enlisted force in most ships forms the 'general mess.' The men are divided into convenient units or messes, according to the size of tlje tables: the chief pett.v officers and those of the first class have their own tables, and when possible are granted special privileges in their messing ar- rangements. In ships on board which the 'gen- eral mess' s.vstem has not been established, the crew is divided into several messes, according to the number. To each officers' mess are allotted a cook, stew- ard, and servants, the number of the latter de- pending upon the nunil)er of officers in the mess. The servants (or mess attendants, as they are called ) are not merely waiters and personal attend- ants, but in action they are ammunition passers. MESSA DI VOCE, mes'sa lU vi/ehti (It., setting of the voice). A term used in (he art of singing, meaning the gradual swelling and again diminishing of the sound of the voice on a note of long duration.