294 FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 



growth and sometimes reaches a height of 15 to 16 metres. The leaves 

 are pinnate, strongly cutinized and dark green in colour. The flowers 

 are reddish, small, and distributed in inflorescences grouped along the 

 branch. 



The plant is dioecious. The female plants yield curved pods from 

 10 to 25 cm. long and 2's cm. broad. Occasionally the tree is monoecious, 

 but in order to ensure fecundity in carob trees grown from seed and 

 which have no subsequent pruning, they should be planted in groups 

 so as to have male and female trees on the same plantation. The 

 establishment of a hive of bees will prove a powerful aid in the delicate 

 business of fertilization. 



The carob tree may be cultivated for the sake of cattle fodder, 

 being especially useful in the bad season, and also as an ornamental 

 and shelter plant against winds which would injure more delicate 

 kinds of vegetation. 



It is a slow-growing and exceptionally long-lived tree. It is said 

 that trees over one hundred years old are still full of sap. 



Ceratonia Siliqiia grows well in all soils. According to the New 

 South Wales Agricultural Gazette, it can be seen growing in soils of 

 almost pure sand, in rich gravel and alluvial ^oiils, or in well cultivated 

 soils which are rich in humus. Nevertheless it does not thrive in hard, 

 close soils. 



The carob tree is propagated by means of seeds, root-stocks, 

 cuttings, and grafting. The seed method is the easiest, and there are 

 said to be several varieties of seed, some better than others. 



Before sowing, the seeds are scalded in an earthenware vessel 

 which is subsequently kept at a moderate temperature until the seeds 

 are soft. This operation will take one or two weeks, the warm 

 water acting more rapidly on some than on others. They are sown 

 in tubs which are drained by means of a layer of charcoal placed 

 at the bottom, and then watered moderately at regular intervals. 

 They are transplanted seven months after sowing, but the best plan is 

 to sow in the spot where the plant is intended to remain, taking care 

 to water regularly and to keep down the weeds. The advantage of 

 grafting is that the reproduction of female trees is certain. 



The season for planting varies in different countries, and similarly 

 the productivity of the trees varies according to the locality. 



Graftings produce pods seven years later, while trees grown from 

 seed are slower in fruiting. When from twelve to fifteen years old 

 they will start bearing large quantities of beans. 



Chambers notes that a single tree produced more than half a ton 

 of beans in a season. Professor Church gives the following analysis : — 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 14-6 per cent. 



Albuminoid matter... ... ... ... 7'i ,, 



Sugars ... ... ... ... ... 51-8 



Carbohydrates ... ... ... ... i6*i ,, 



Fat ... ... ... ... i-i 



Cellulose ... ... ... ... ... 6-4 ,, 



Ash ... ... ... ... ... 2-9 ,, 



lOO'O 



