The Ouve in Arizona ^^07 



CULTURE 



Because the olive can endure a great deal of neglect, one must not 

 infer that it will thrive and bear successful crops under improper or 

 careless methods of culture. A study of the olive orchards of the State 

 shows conclusively that the growth and yield of the trees and the 

 quality of the fruit are directly proportional to the character of the 

 cultural conditions. 



TILLAGE 



Tillage is important in maintaining the proper physical condition 

 of the soil, preserving moisture, and rendering plant food available. 

 At least once each year, preferably during winter when the trees are 

 less active, the orchard should be thoroughly plowed. If the soil 

 remains long unbroken, masses of feeding roots accumulate near the 

 surface, which will be injured when the plowing is done, thus dis- 

 turbing the growth of the trees more than if the work is done regularly. 

 The depth of plowing should be varied from year to year to avoid 

 the formation of a hard, impervious plow sole. 



The orchard should be kept cleanly cultivated when the land is 

 not occupied by a cover crop. The principal direct benefits of culti- 

 vation are conservation of soil moisture, eradication of weeds, and 

 aeration of the soil. The soil should be stirred to a depth of four or 

 five inches every two or three weeks during summer. 



CO\'ER CROPPING 



Cover crops which supply plant food and humus have an important 

 place in the olive orchard. Although some of our valley soils are quite 

 fertile, the yields of most olive orchards could be increased and the 

 quality of the fruit improved by growing cover crops between the rows. 

 The method followed and the kinds of crops used depend a great deal 

 on the condition of the orchard. In some cases the growing of 

 winter legumes, such as common or hairy vetch, alfalfa, or sour clover 

 is satisfactory ; in others, summer cover crops, such as cowpeas, tepary 

 or soy beans are best; and in still others (if water is expensive) the 

 use of winter and summer cover crops is the best practice. 



Alfalfa is sometimes grown for hay in the olive orchard. This 

 may be done while the trees are young, if the soil is fertile and a 

 cleanly cultivated strip is maintained along the tree rows; but the 



