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species, all of them being evergreen trees or shrubs, which may be 

 utili/ed for garden decoration. No family of plants is more widely 

 dispersed over the world, as species are found indigenous to the south 

 of Europe, North Africa, Cape of Good Hope, North America, Syria, 

 India, China and Australasia. Botanical ly the genus is known as 

 Olea, and it is the type of the natural order Oleacece. The name is 

 derived from Elaia, the Greek for Olive. The most valuable species 

 is Olea exropea (known also as Olea xativ(i), from which the Olive oil 

 of commerce is obtained. This species, notwithstanding its specific 

 name, is supposed to have been introduced to Europe from Asia by 

 the Greeks at a very early period. The Olive appears to have been 

 highly valued by all the nations of antiquity, and it is frequently 

 mentioned by their historians, both sacred and profane. According 

 to the Hebrew traditions, when Noah wus in the Ark an Olive branch 

 was brought to him by the bird he had sent forth, as a sign that the 

 great flood was subsiding. From this circumstance the Olive has 

 been generally accepted as the emblem of peace by the Jewish and 

 Christian nations. By the early Greeks the Olive was held in the 

 highest veneration, and the oil was freely used at religious ceremonies 

 in libations to the gods, whilst its use for dietary purposes was 

 general. Branches of the Olive also formed the wreaths of the 

 victors in the Olympic games. In the fables of this nation, Minerva 

 and the Graces are represented as being crowned with Olive branches. 

 When the festivals in honour of Minerva were held it was customary 

 for all who attended to make contributions of Olives. Those who 

 excelled in the public games at these festivals were crowned with 

 wreaths of Olives obtained from the Grove of Academus, near Athens. 

 Plato having established a school of philosophy in this locality, all 

 places of learning were afterwards called academies, and hence the 

 modern name. In the Greek mythology there is a curious but 

 interesting account as to the origin of the Olive. According to the 

 fable a dispute arose between Neptune and Minerva as to which of 

 them should have the right to give a name to a new city built by 

 Cecrops. As they could not agree the dispute was referred to a 

 council of the gods, who decided that the contestant who produced 

 the most beneficial gift to mankind should have the preference. 

 Neptune, striking the ground with his trident produced a horse, and 

 Minerva caused an Olive tree to spring from the ground. The assembled 

 gods gave their decision in favour of Minerva, as they considered that 

 the Olive, being the emblem of peace, was better for mankind than war, 

 which the horse was supposed to typify. By other ancient nations the Olive 

 was also held in high esteem, and was supposed to possess many valuable 

 qualities. By the Hebrews, Egyptians, and Syrians the oil was exten- 

 sively used for dietary and medicinal purposes. It was considered by 

 these nations to be useful in chest diseases, cases of stone or gravel to 

 open the urinary passages, and as an antidote for corrosive mineral 

 poisons. Olive oil was generally used in baths, being supposed to warm 

 the body and act as a preventative of colds. Wrestlers in the public 

 games were also in the habit of anointing their bodies with Olive oil. 

 According to Pliny, we learn that, excepting the Fig and Grape, no fruit 



