CAROB TREE. 



CERATONIA SILIQUA. 



LEGUMINOS^. POLYGAMIA POLYCECIA. 



Also called St. John's Bread, and by some old writers. Bean- 

 tree. — Frenchy caroubier ; Italian, cambbo. 



The Carob-tree grows to a considerable size, with 

 many branches ; the leaves are pinnate, coiiiposed of 

 thick stiff leaflets, nearly round, two or three inches in 

 diameter. The blossoms grow in little red clusters with 

 yellow stalks; these are succeeded by legumes an inch 

 and a half broad, and from four to fourteen inches in 

 length, which contain several flat seeds ; the husks are 

 filled with a sweet juice. 



In Palestine, Greece, Italy, Barbary, &c., where this 

 tree is very common, the fruit is suffered to ripen and 

 grow dry upon the trees. The poor in those countries 

 feed upon it, and it is also used to fatten cattle. 



Many persons have supposed the locusts eaten by St. 

 John the Baptist to have been the fruit of this tree, and 

 that the wild honey was the pulpy juice contained in the 

 husk ; whence the tree has obtained the name of St. 

 John's Bread. This notion, however, is generally con- 

 sidered as fabulous ; but many writers agree that there 

 is great reason to believe these to be the husks of which 

 the Prodigal Son desired to partake with the swine. 

 Columella, and other authors, speak of them as a com- 

 mon food for swine, and as being frequently eaten by 

 the poor. 



