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is equally accommodating as regards soils, and will thrive in light sand, 

 gravel, or rich alluvial ground. But it is more especially at home when 

 planted in calcareous or limestone soils. As a matter of course, however, 

 trees will grow faster and stronger in rich than in poor land. The land 

 should be prepared by working it to the depth of at least fifteen inches, 

 and, when necessary, drainage must be provided for, as the Carob cannot 

 stand its roots being sodden ed. Planting should be done early in the 

 autumn or spring, taking care not to expose the roots. If grown for 

 their fruit alone, the trees should be planted at least twenty-four feet 

 apart, in order to allow room for development. When planted as a 

 breakwind, from ten to twelve feet apart will be a proper distance. As a 

 matter of course, it is only the female and hermaphrodite trees that will 

 bear fruit, and there must be to the former a proportion of male plants, 

 say about one in ten. This will be a difficulty with cultivators when 

 seedling trees are used, as their sex cannot be ascertained till they flower. 

 It will not arise, however, when trees have been propagated by layers, 

 cuttings, or grafting, as the plants will then be the same as their parents. 

 In the early stages of growth it will be necessary to prune the trees so as 

 to get compact, well-formed heads and clear stems for three or four feet 

 above the ground at the least. The Carob is slow in growth for the first 

 few years, and also in coming into bearing. Seedlings are nine or ten 

 years old before they begin to bear, but trees from layers, cuttings, or 

 grafts will generally begin to yield fruit in six or seven years. When 

 from twelve to fifteen years old, the trees are usually in, full bearing 

 condition, and, as a rule, they yield regular and heavy crops. As soon 

 as the pods are fully ripe they will begin to fall from the trees, and the 

 common way of using them for live stock, in the countries where they are 

 grown for the purpose, is to let the animals pick them up. If required 

 for storing, however, the pods may be shaken from the trees, or beaten 

 off with light poles, taking care to spread them out till they are thoroughly 

 dry. If packed in heaps when taken direct from the trees, they are apt 

 to ferment, turn colour, and deteriorate in quality. 



PROPAGATION. 



The Carob may be propagated by seeds, layers, cuttings, grafting, and 

 budding. Plants are easily obtained from seed, but the great drawback 

 to this method of propagation is that the grower is always uncertain as to 

 the sex of the trees. Seed may be sown at any period of the year, but 

 themost favourable time is early in the spring. As the outer covering of 

 theseeds is very hard, they should be prepared by pouring boiling water 

 upon them, and must then be allowed to soak for about a week or ten 

 days. They should then be sown in light free soil, covering them to the 

 depth of half-an-inch, and pressing the earth firmly upon them. The 

 young plants will be ready for putting out in the following season. 

 Layers may be put down early in the autumn or spring, preparing them 

 with a tongue or heel. Cuttings will strike readily in sand or light soil 

 if put in towards the end of the summer or in autumn. They should be 

 made from the ripened wood of the current season's growth, leaving them 



