140 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



most valuable tree it is too. In France, and 

 Spain, and Italy, where the finest olives are 

 found, it is considered the first among trees, 

 the pride of the forest ; and yet it is by no 

 means remarkable for beauty ; on the contrary, 

 it is a rather insignificant little tree in appear- 

 ance, seldom rising more than eighteen or 

 twenty feet high ; but this is where it is culti- 

 vated ; the wild trees are found much larger. 

 Olives are very long-lived ; they will continue 

 to bear fruit, it is said, for more than two 

 hundred years. The flowers are small and 

 white, and have a slight perfume. The wood 

 is strong, heavy, compact, and brilliant when 

 polished : it is used by turners, and in making 

 small articles of furniture, such as dressing 

 cases, (fee, and it burns extremely well ; but 

 the value of the fruit is so great that the trees 

 are seldom cut down, either for manufacturers* 

 use or for fuel. This fruit is in appearance 

 something like a small plum, only that it is 

 considerably longer than it is broad, and it has 

 in it a stone of nearly the same shape ; and it 

 is from these fruits or olives that sweet oil is 

 obtained. Vast quantities of them are pickled 

 too in salt and water. I suppose you know 

 most of the uses of oil ?" 



