A PEEP AT THE TROPICS 253
the carob would be an ideal crop. Few trees exist, however, in the country at the present time. I found a group of twenty or thirty trees on a plantation south of Untalli in Eastern Rhodesia where the trees were about fourteen or fifteen years of age and of fairly good size. I was told that they produced pods in abundance and that the cattle came to the trees regularly to get the pods and this was evidenced by the fact that the ground was trodden down all around under the trees. The owner of the plantation was convinced that the planting of carobs in that section would be of very great value.
"There are a number of legumes native to South Africa that have pods similar to the carob, some of which are actually thicker and might be even more valuable if cultivated or if planted on good lands. I have not yet had opportunity to determine the identity of these trees. I saw one in the forest near Victoria Falls that produced a square solid pod about the length of the pod of the carob and an inch square practically each way."
This passage from Dr. Webber needs pondering—especially when one remembers that there are several million square miles of semi-arid tropic lands on which such trees might grow.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TROPICAL TREE RESEARCH
The tropic lands have great crop possibilities in their trees.
The tropic lands have great need for a more dependable crop than the grain crops of today.
The tropic lands exceed the temperate zone in the possibilities of tree-crop development through government agencies. Appropriations do not depend so much upon elected legislatures as they do in the temperate zone. Suppose the Director of the Experiment Station of Maine. Minnesota. Arizona, or Alberta should want to do big work as outlined in this book. I know that some of them have tried and have almost eaten their hearts out in running up against obstacles.
