FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 



297 



and horses belonging to the English cavalry were fed entirely on the 

 carob bean. 



Wittmack states that the fruit is used in the manufacture of a 

 pharmaceutical syrup. It is prepared and sold like chocolate. 



According to Dr. G. Wittstein, this bean contains butyric acid. 

 After distilling in the presence of sulphuric and phosphoric acid the 

 product is precipitated in the form of barium butyrate, and the acid 

 is obtained by removing the barium by means of sulphuric acid and 



Agriciilttiral Cazctte, N.S.W. 



Fig. 4g. — Acacia J sp. 



subsequent rectification. This salt of barium butyrate contains 5o'77 

 per cent, of acid. 



Dr. de Hass, in his '• Buried Cities Recovered," says that he is 

 inclined to believe that the " wild honey " which was the basis of the 

 diet of John the Baptist was none other than the fruit of the carob 

 tree. In Palestine this fruit is known as St. John^s Bread. In Arabia 

 it is called carob because of its crescentic shape. 



This tree is found throughout Palestine. It is an evergreen with 



