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preserving. The green fruit is also turned to account as a pickle. Very 

 closely allied to the Carambola is the Blimbing, the Indian name for the 

 fruit of Averrhoa Bilimbi, a beautiful evergreen tree. It is indigenous to 

 India, grows to the height of twenty or thirty feet, and has winged leaves, 

 which are slightly sensitive when touched or shook. The flowers are 

 reddish-yellow, and the fruit is oblong and about the size of an Egg 

 Plum. The Pulp is juicy and pleasantly acid. It is used in the same 

 way as the Carambola. The mode of bearing is somewhat singular ia 

 both species, as the flowers and fruit are frequently produced upon the 

 trunks below the leaves. 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



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As the Carambola and Blimbing are so closely allied, and come from 

 the same regions, they require precisely similar treatment. Though 

 natives of warm countries they are not so tender as many other tropical 

 plants, and are said to be able to stand light frosts with impunity. They 

 may be cultivated successfully in any portion of Australia within the 

 sub- tropical regions, and even further south in warm sheltered spots in 

 the coast river districts of Northern New South Wales. Where the 

 climatic conditions are favourable both trees are well worth cultivating 

 for the sake of their fruit, which is greatly relished in India. The plants 

 require a fairly good soil, and should be sheltered from strong winds. 

 Propagation is mostly effected by seeds, which should be sown when 

 fresh, covering them to the depth of an inch. Cuttings of the ripened 

 wood will strike in sand under a glass. 



CAROB. 



HISTORY. 



This is a handsome and useful evergreen tree belonging to the natural 

 order Leguminosae, known botanically as Ceratonia siliqua. It is most 

 commonly known as the Carob . but also under the names of Locust, 

 Algaroba, and St. John's Bread Tree. The latter name has originated 

 from the tradition that the fruit of this tree supplied food to St. John the 

 Baptist in the Wilderness. Throughout Palestine the most familiar name 

 is "The Locust Tree." Carob is derived from keras> a horn, in allusion 

 to the shape of the pods, or "beans," as they are most commonly called. 

 Algaroba is a Spanish form of Carob, and is applied to other trees 

 belonging to the order Leguminosae that have sweet edible pods, The 

 Carob is indigenous to Palestine and other regions along the eastern 

 shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and under favourable conditions attains 

 a height of forty to fifty feet. It is a compact growing tree, with dark 

 green shining foliage. There are both male and female flowers, which 

 usually are produced upon separate trees, but not invariably. Sometimes 

 both classes of flowers are produced upon the one tree, and occasionally 



