120 L THE CAROB 



formed in clusters of several racemes on the stems 

 and branches. They make their appearance in August 

 and bloom in September and October. Trees bearing 

 only male flowers are termed "baghal" master or lord, 

 and their habit is distinctly more robust. They are 

 usually chance seedlings and are allowed to grow 

 ungrafted in order to utilize the catkins of male flowers 



o 



for the fertilization of seedlings or grafted varieties 

 bearing only female flowers, and also to improve the 

 fertilization of varieties bearing perfect or bisexual 

 flowers. 



PROPAGATION. The carob tree can be propagated 

 by cuttings consisting of a twig with a heel of the 

 old wood. Layers can be made in spring, and must 

 be kept moderately moist throughout the summer in 

 order to root. In the regency of Tunis the best sorts 

 of carobs are now propagated by cuttings, taken in 

 February, and made of straight twigs or branches, 

 2 to 10 c. m. in thickness and 30 to 50 c. m long, 

 with the lower section cut very clean just below a 

 bud. The cuttings are planted in holes about 70 c. m. 

 deep and filled with sand or with a light sandy soil, 

 and they are put in in a perpendicular position and deep 

 enough to leave only one or two buds above ground. 

 Watering is done at first every week, and afterwards at 

 longer intervals as may be necessary, and with due 

 attention it is said that as many as 75 to 90 p. cent 

 of the cuttings will strike root. Trees grown by this 

 method will fruit when they are three or four years old. 



In these Islands the carob tree is exclusively grown 

 from seed, as the cheapest and easiest way of pro- 

 pagation. The seed may be sown in place in early 

 spring or in autumn, by dropping two or three seeds 

 in a small hole made in the soil. After a year only 

 the strongest seedling is allowed to remain, the others 

 being pulled out, and the place kept clear of weeds. 

 In the 4th or 5th year the plant is strong enough 



