308 



FORAGE LEGUMINOS^ 



Its cultivation has been tried in Australia and a certain value seems 

 to have been attached to the plant. Apart from the value of its timber, 

 Pithccolohium, commonly known as giiango, produces a quantity of 

 pods containing a sweet ]julp, the flavour of which is not disagreeable, 

 but it leaves rather a shaiiD and bitter taste behind. The pods, 

 which are from 4 to 4^ in. long, have practically no importance as 

 regards human food, but may be of considerable value as fodder for 

 beasts, wliich devour them greedily. In America the fruits are of 

 great use in the feeding of the various cattle on a farm. 



The fruit of the carob tree [Ceratoiiia siliqita) has the same qualities 

 as that of the quango, and this tree is of capital importance in a large 

 portion of Algeria and South Portugal. In years of famine the fruit 

 of the carob tree is used for human food, but it is always in consider- 

 able demand for cattle fodder and in the manufacture of alcohol. Its 

 nutritive properties are so much esteemed that when its commercial 

 value is not too high big companies import it into Paris for the feeding 

 of their horses. 



We have examined the composition of the pods of Pithecolobium 

 and find it to be as follows : — 



Water 



Ash 



Celhilose 



Sugar (glucose) 



Non-nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter ... 



Nitrogen 



M. Boname, in his turn, gives the percentage composition of the 

 Pitliccolohhim pod, separated from its seeds, to be as follows : — 



Water 



Ash 



Cellulose 



.Sugar (glucose) 



Nnn -nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogen 



In both cases the ratio is i : 6-1. The nutritive value of the product 

 is thus very high, and makes it a complete food. It can be of consider- 

 able use in the feeding of live stock, and, owing to its being easily 

 conserved, might be kept for times when food is scarce. 



The pulp of the pods, which contains more than 25 per cent, of 

 sugar, may be used for the manufacture of alcohol. 



In an experiment made in the Station laboratory an average result 

 was obtained of 11-5 litres of absolute alcohol per 100 kilos of pods, 



