Feb. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



87 



foliage is a light greeu, and its appearance in the spring is followed by the 

 handsome purple blossoms, which contain a quantity of nectar that attracts 

 bees in large numbers. 



In early autumn the long, broad, locust beans are very prominent as the 

 foliage falls. At first the pods are brown, but they steadily darken to a 

 black colour, finally becoming dry and eventually falling. In the early stage 

 the pods contain a soft, edible, sweet pulp, Ijut at any stage of ripeness they 



A tree planted in 1910, showing a good crop of 

 edible beans in winter. 



The same tree pruned and shaped after the beans have 

 been eaten^ 



are promptly eaten as they fall by pigs of all ages. A strict watch has been 

 kept at this institution in order that any symptoms of digestive disturbance 

 following consumption of the pods might be noted. So far nothing has 

 occurred to show that these beans are not nourishing and edible. Confidence 

 was established at the initiation of the test by a perusal of Gray's " Supplement 

 to the Pharmacopeia," edited by Professor Redwood and published in 1845. 

 On page 261 is a description of the tree and the statement " the seeds are 

 used to feed animals and the sap yields sugar." An average sample of the 



