II Dec. 1911-] 



The Olive. 



837 



it cannot be doubted that our soils and climate are eminently suited to the 

 olive. Of course, like many other trees, the olive will grow well in places 

 where it will not fruit profitably ; and, in this connexion, there is room for 

 experiment in determining its peculiarities. It was believed by some that 

 the trees would not fruit well beyond 90 miles from the sea. This idea, 

 however, has proved to be entirely erroneous, and in several places in Aus- 

 tralia it is fruiting some hundreds of miles inland. In fact, it flourishes 

 so well in our semi-arid inland districts, especially where irrigation is avail- 

 able, that it is doubtful if it would do better, or even as well, in. the coastal 

 districts where the annual rainfall is good. 



The olive succeeds best in a warm, somewhat dry climate, where the 

 temperature does not fall blow 20 degrees F. It is inadvisable to plant 

 in districts where the thermometer gives a lower register than this. Severe 

 frosts seriously damage the trees. 10 degrees F. being said to prove fataL 



I wo ORIGINAL TREES PLANTED BV SIR S. 

 BORE 7 CWT. IN 1910. 



DAVKM'CiRr 



M.iny of the [ilantntions in France were killed in JaiuKuy, i8jo. owing 

 to this cause. A temperature of 14 to 18 degrees F. usually causes serious 

 damage, particularly if it occurs in late winter or early spring, when the 

 nt,w wfKjd is on the trees. Injury to the fruit usually takes place at about 

 24 degrees F. ; this is especiallv so with son'e varieties. It will be seen then 

 that the climatic conditions of the gn\iler part of inland Victoria, where 

 thci elevations are not gr<'at, will be fnund suitable tor olives. The.se con- 

 diti ms also extend over enormous are. is in the other States. 



Son . 



Owing to its thriftiness and tenaiitv ol lile. it is thought \<s many that 

 tlie olive tree drns not re']uire g<ind soil. This is. however, a mistaken idea. 

 It is due in a measure to its arloption in many of the older countries for the 

 utili/.ition of waste sjiaces or infertile land. Its hardihood in this respect 

 li.is bien the nu-.ins of a[)pr.-ciating the \.due of many jir<ir hillside KmkIs 



