262 



Vernac. names. — Paloura (Cyprus, Gennadius) ; Algaroba (Spanish, 

 Gennadius). Carob Bean ; Locust Bean ; St. John's Bread. 



Native of S. Europe and the Mediterranean region. Wild and 

 cultivated in N. Africa ; naturalised in certain parts of India ; 

 cultivated in the West Indies, &c. 



The beans are an important food for stock — cattle, horses and pigs. 

 Crushed and mixed with coarse fodder they are a very palatable and 

 nourishing ration (Kearney & Means, U.S. Dept. Agric. Bureau PI. 

 Ind. Bull. No. 80, 1905, p. 85). In Naples horses are given for their 

 daily food 6 kilog. of broken carobs, 6 kilog. of bran and 10 kilog. 

 of hay (Gennadius, The Carob Tree, p. 10) ; it is usual to break the 

 pod into two or three pieces, and to -put it in the nose-bag or 

 manger mixed with bran (Cons. Rep. Misc. No. 431, p. 6). In this 

 country they are used in the preparation of concentrated cattle -foods 

 (Kew Bull. Sept. 1887, p. 18). 



In Cyprus a kind of molasses and sugar candy called " pasteli " is 

 obtained from the beans — about 8 okes (22f lbs.) of molasses, and b' 

 okes (16i lbs.) of pasteli are obtained from 15 okes (42 lbs.) of 

 carobs. About 18 to 25 per cent, of spirit may also be distilled from 

 them. The "sherbets" of the Turks, Arabs, and Fellahs are 

 prepared from these beans and liquorice. Fried carobs are often used 

 in Spain to adulterate coffee and chocolate (Gennadius, I.e. p. 12). 



" Black Honey " made from the pods is exhibited in the Kew 

 Museum. 



The seed when treated yields a powerful gum, which is used for 

 industrial purposes (Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 3935, 1907, p. 11), probably 

 by calico printers and finishers who have recently devoted some 

 attention to the bean as a thickening agent (Queensland Agric. Journ. 

 xxiii, 1909, p. 132 ; from Indian Trade Journ. 22 April). 



The heartwood is easily worked, polishes well and can be used for 

 making carts and furniture. It does not withstand much moisture, 

 though its density is 0*827 to 0*908 (Gennadius, I.e. p. 13), equal to 51 lbs. 

 per cubic foot (see also Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. p. 278). 



The kotted branches are imported into this country for making 

 walking-sticks (Mus. Kew). 



Propagated by seed, which is very hard, and may require soaking 

 before sowing. It is advisable to grow the seedlings on in pots 

 (bamboo for preference), as the plants do not transplant well from 

 nursery beds, owing to the development of a tap root. They should 

 be large enough to put out in permanent places, about 20 feet apart, 

 in less than twelve months, and in about one to two years later 

 should be ready for grafting — an operation necessary to ensure good 

 crops, the tree being dioecious. The best results are obtained by 

 grafting scions of improved races upon seedling trees. The Spanish 

 practice is to graft a branch from a male tree on the base of a female 

 tree (Kearney & Means, I.e. p. 81). Male trees may have each branch 

 grafted from a female tree, reserving one ungrafted male branch to 

 ensure fertilisation (Kew Bull. 1898, p. 184). 



In Cyprus the young trees are budded when about 7 feet high 

 (Gennadius, The Carob Tree, p. 17). 



The two best varieties in Italy are both called " Honeybag " — one 

 with a long narrow pod, the other a short wide one (Neville-Rolfe, 

 iu Cons. Rep. Misc. No. 431, 1897, p. 5). 



A dry, well drained, stony or calcareous soil ; a warm climate — 



