70 



Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. 



[lo Jan., 1912. 



should ba about 15 to 20 in. in length and .should be taken from the 

 tree.s in June, July, or August. All side shoots should be removed and 

 care taken not to brui.se the bark. When planting in the nursery, it is 

 a good plan to place the truncheons at an angle in the furrow, tread firmly, 

 and cover over completelv with .soil, taking care to leave the top of the 

 cutting close to the surface in such a manner that it will remain moist and 

 gain a sufficiency of air. Several trees may be obtained from each trun- 

 cheon in this manner, as thev often develop sprouts and roots along the 

 greater part of their length. If only one shoot is desirfed, the most suit- 

 able should be selected and the others remo\ed. 



Terminal Cuttings. — The.se are made from the tips of the shrtots 

 after they have passed the herbaceous stage ; they should be cut about 6 in. 

 in height. All of the lower leaves should be removed immediately after 

 cutting, to prevent evaporation of moisture and consequent wilting. The 



7. OLIVE TRUNCHEONS AND CUTTINGS. 



a, b, and c. Truncheons, 3in., 2in. and lin. diameter respectively ; d and e. Cuttings ; f. Catting- pre- 

 pared for planting ; g. Terminal cutting-; h. Terminal cutting- prepared for planting-. 



end for planting should be cut off close to a node, as they callus and 

 root better w^hen cut in such manner. Those cuttings with the buds close 

 together are the best. They should be planted in a compost containing 

 a good proportion of sharp sand and be kept continually moist. This 

 kind of cutting is best started in lath or shelter hou.ses or in frames, 

 and ])l anted out when well rooted. Cuttings of old wood below an inch 

 in thi(.l.ness should be of lesser length than the truncheons, and should 

 be started in the nur.sery. 



Cuttings are considered the quicker method of raising selected varieties. 

 They come into bearing earlier, but are supposed to be shorter lived. Tt 

 is possible that, in poor soils or trying situations, the seedling mav be 

 the more thriftv and long lived tree, but experience in this country has 

 not go;'? to prove that this is the case. Many of the oldest trees in Aus- 

 tralia v,;re raised from truncheons and are still doing well. However, 

 their age is comparative vouth in the life of the olive tree, and perhaps 



