482 



THE MONTHLY Bl'IYLETIN. 



Olive culture has undoubtedly passed the experimental stage and is based on a 

 solid foundation as one of the best and surest of investments, but planters must 

 heed the experience gained during the past 25 years. The requisites are good 

 gravelly soil, sufficient drainage, plenty of water for summer irrigation, and fertiliza- 

 tion to stimulate the growth of the trees and the development of the fruit, and above 

 all the trees should be planted at the proper distance. 



The most important feature of olive culture is the longevity of the trees. An 

 olive grove is planted as a permanent proposition and will represent a permanent 

 income, not only for the man who plants it, providing he does it right, but for future 

 generations. As witness to this fact olive groves are found iu Italy over seven 

 hundred years old bearing fine crops year after year. Also at Santa Clam. S;ui 

 Piego and other old missions in California, trees over 105 years old are now bearing 

 good crops of fruit. Furthermore, an olive grove can be considered as a monopo- 

 listic proposition, from the fact that in all of North America the olive can be grown 

 only in California and in a small part of Arizona. 



Fig. 147. One of the early olive plantings — still a good bearer. 



The California ripe olive is a delicious, nutritious food; with bread it forms a 

 perfect balanced ration. It has no competitor, having the United States and tie- 

 world for a market. California olive oil is superior lo the thin imported article. 

 The olive business is established and is growing at a rate that insures that Yuba's 

 fifteen thousand or more suitable acres will soon be planted. The needful things in 

 the business today are close cooperation on the part of the growers, a standardization 

 of olive products and a campaign for the education of the public as to the joys of 

 consuming the ripe olive and olive oil. 



