185 
respecting the propagation and cultural treatment of the tree in 
Italy :— 
Report on the Cultivation of the Carob or Locust-bean Tree. 
n the course of last spring a well-known gentleman from South 
Africa made inquiries at this Consulate concerning the cultiva- 
tion of the carob or locust-bean tree and the possibilities of its 
introduction into the Cape Colony. The carob is a tree the fruit 
of which consists of a long pod, which not only forms excellent 
horse-food, e is very T tg eaten by human beings, especially 
children, on account of sweetness. The pods contain very 
hard böki, etimh are ‘instal only for seed, as horses leave them 
in their mangers, and if by ae Pes swallow them, it is found 
o igest he ears, M 
It grows in many places in the Mediterranean where nothing else 
will grow, notably on the arid hills of Malta, and it seems certain 
that in the endless varieties of soil and cli mate to be met with in 
the Cape Colony there must be many districts where it would 
grow freely. Thes ERE AN result of such an experiment would 
be simply f vatostlo $ the colony if me rely as a supply for 
legem for one of de greatest difficulties in travelling at the 
Cape is to feed one's horses, the price of forage in some districts 
being vitro ely high, and the sipiy often distressingly short. 
moreover, as it consists of oats with their straw, is not 
raay portable, Dut carobs enough for a pair of horses for a day 
can be carried in a small bag. The carob in Italy grows cio oe 
the oranges and lemons, and there can be no reason why it should 
not grow with the magnificent orange trees of Wellington, and 
become as superior to the carob of Italy as the Cape orange tree 
is superior to its Italian prototype. In places like Graaf-Reinet, 
and Aliwal North, the success of the experiment seems absolutely 
there is good hope that it might take kindly to the * Kopjes" 
near Colesberg, the bush eie of the Western EX the lower 
slopes of the "Drake nfelds, or among the trees the Knysna 
forest. The writer being well acquainted with d Cape Colony, 
has had much pleasure in investigating the matter thoroughly, 
and, after lengthened consultation with practical arboriculturists, 
ihe f following modus operandi has been decided upon. First, a 
seedlings in different parts of the colony. These seeds will 
uce carobasters, which will not have a fruit worthy of the 
name till they are grafted. a strongest seedlings may 
grafted in their third year, but it is of no use to graft until the 
plant is en to and well grown, which may not be till it is five or 
even seven years old. 
A number of plan in pots will be grafted pue As spaw; 
en t 
acked, 
water, and it is confidently hoped that they will bear the eae 
satisfactorily. They will be sent from here in the month of 
February, and will probably Wave vid England, which seems 
climatically preferable to the East Coast route, by German steamer 
