168 Remarks on the Culture of Exotic Vegetables. 



through, when they root very readily. These operations 

 should be performed in the month of August. 



Grafting on the Olea Capensis, and other indigenous species 

 of the Cape Olive, should also be performed in the month of 

 August, and there is little doubt of the beneficial result of 

 such practice, in procuring an early return of the green fruit 

 for pickling, and the ripe fruit for nil. The scions or grafts 

 should be placed rather low on the stocks, and the buds from 

 the latter be carefully rubbed off as they make their appearance. 

 The longevity of the European olive tree is remarkable, as 

 some plantations exist which are supposed to be those men- 

 mentioned by Pliny ; and, therefore, must have existed nearly 

 two thousand yercrs, if not more, and still produce an abundant 

 crop. 



In France and Italy, an uncertainty prevails in the crops of 

 olives; sometimes one that yields a profit, does not occur for 

 six or eight years together ; and hence it is considered that 

 the culture thereof is less beneficial to the peasants of those 

 countries, than that of corn ; but these circumstances do 

 not appear to apply to this Country, especially as the olive 

 may be cultivated on ground which is impenetrable to the 

 plough or spade. 



The different kinds of South African olive trees, are well 

 known to the peasantiy of this Country, by the general appel- 

 lation of olyvenhout-boom, some of which attains a consider- 

 able size, and are useful as furnishing a hard and compact 

 wood for cabinet work, and some more essential purposes of 

 domestic economy. The Iron- wood of the Colony is in reality 

 a species of olive, viz. Olea undulata. 



The Boschjesmen sometimes form their keries and the well- 

 known implement, the graafstok, of the Olea capensis, and 

 for the latter purpose it is peculiarly adapted on account of 

 its hardness. Among those tribes the nuts are preserved by 

 the mothers, and given occasionally to the children, who appear 

 to devour the kernels with much satisfaction. 



The Olea capensis is widely disseminated over the whole 

 Colony, and inhabits alike the highest mountains, (where they 

 maintain themselves by insinuating their roots into the 

 crevices of the rocks,) the strong soil of the Karoo's, and the 

 purer sands of the downs and sea shores. It is also found in 

 the recesses of the forests, and along the margins of rivers. 

 In the plains neighbouring the Sneeuwberg, the olive sheltered 

 by piles of loose green stones or occasional schisturs rocks, 

 attains a larger size than any of the other trees which occur 

 at a distance from rivers. It is common from thence to the 

 Gariep or Orange river. In that country they occasionally 

 shelter the flocks and herds ; and it is the kind so often 



