THE OLIVE TREE ] 99 



ment. The typical wild olive (Olea europaea var. Oleaster 

 Hoffmann) is a tall growing tree with a more or less 

 twisted trunk, and small narrow leaves, greyish green 

 on the upper surface. The fruit is produced in great 

 abundance, but is small and has a comparatively large 

 stone. The -fruit furnishes an inferior sort of olive oil 

 and is used pickled or salted by the poorer classes. 

 The wild olive or Oleaster is a fine tree for avenues 

 and grows quickly, and in suitable situations attains a 

 large size, as shown by the gigantic wild olives growing 

 in San Antonio Gardens. The wood, particularly the 

 heartwood at the base of the trunk, is very beautifully 

 veined and takes a high lustre, and should be used 

 more frequently by cabinet-makers. 



SOIL AND SITUATION. The olive tree grows in all 

 soils and in all situations, but like most other trees 

 it falls into a chlorotic condition and soon succumbs 

 if there is stagnant humidity at the roots. It is also 

 liable to become chlorotic and sterile on soils which 

 are excessively dry. It thrives best in the red soils 

 overlying a porous and moderately moist subsoil. When 

 planting on clayey or retentive soils it is necessary 

 to provide for a proper drainage, by the construction 

 of trenches 2 metres wide, i to 2 metres deep and 

 6 to 8 metres apart, laid in the best direction to 

 facilitate the flow of water. The bottom of the trench 

 is filled in with rubbish or other loose material, overlaid 

 by a layer of soil at least i metre in thickness. In 

 very shallow red soils, with a broken rocky subsoil, 

 it is advisable to construct pits or pockets in the 

 rock, at least 2 metres in diameter and deep enough 

 to provide for a total depth of i or \\ metres of 

 soil. In situations too much exposed to the north and 

 west winds the olive tree is liable to injury in spring 

 during the flowering period, the best situations being 

 those sloping towards the east or south. In situations 

 which are too close or badly ventilated the olive tree 



