lo Oct., 1908.] 



Viticulture in Europe. 



579 



of young oli\e plantations which are to be seen ever) where in the southern 

 provinces. Granada possesses over 100,000 acres under olive culture; but 

 it is the adjoining provinces of Se villa, Cordoba and Jaen which constitute 

 the principal olive region of Spain ; between them they have one and- a 

 half million acres planted with olives, or almost exactly half the area 

 occupied bv this culture in Spain. 



When one views these plantations and considers the above figures the 

 question presents itself whether we are right to neglect this useful tree in 



A VERY OLD OLIVE TREE. 



the way we do, and whether olive culture is not destined, some day, to 

 become one of our important rural industries, especially as it thrives with 

 us as well as in any other part of the world. The few plantations we 

 already possess have abundantly proved this as well as the high quality 

 of the oil we can produce. Both our soil and climate are admirably suited 

 to its successful cultivation. The precious quality it shares with other 

 deep rooting plants, such as the vine, of withstanding long periods of 

 drought renders it worthy of more extensive trial in the drier parts of 

 Victoria. Photographs of some Spanish olive trees are here reproduced. 



Winter Irrigation — A Lesson for Victoria. 



Another point that made a strong impression on me on the trip from 

 Almeria^ to Granada was the extent to which winter irrigation is practised. 

 Though it was approaching midwinter, olives, vines, and even wheat were 

 everywhere being w^atered, usually by flooding, though occasionally by 

 seepage. The great aim of the farmer in the drier parts of Spain is to 

 well soak the subsoil in winter, by irrigation, wherever this is possible. 

 There is no doubt that we could with advantage utilize much of our sur- 

 plus winter water in the same wav. 



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