9 



Petiole, short, very thick. The leaves are very numerous and the 

 cover thick, of deep color; inserted perpendicularly on the branches, 

 the leaves present out their upper face; the result is that the tree is of 

 a deep hue, and can be recognized readily at a distance. 



Fruits, distributed on the whole length of the two-year old branches, 

 more numerous at the base; isolated or in groups of two, three, or 

 four. 



Peduncle, pretty long, big enough, entering into a shallow depres- 

 sion; stigma little apparent. Olive under middle size or small 

 (length one and one half to two centim., width one to one and one 

 fourth centim.), ovoid in form, narrowed in towards both ends; the 

 fruit remains light red for a long time, then turns to a reddish black; 

 some olives remain red till the general ripens, hence its characteristic 

 name of Rouget. It is speckled with pretty numerous dots well 

 marked on the red or reddish background; not very hoary; fruit 

 rather shiny; skin pretty thick; pulp fleshy, colored by an abundant 

 vinous red juice; pit middling or small, of elongated ovoid form; 

 very late variety. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The Rouget is altogether a very hardy variety, and very precious 

 for propagation in poor land. It thrives in the garrigue (waste lands) 

 soils of Herault even in the midst of calcareous rocks, where it would 

 seem no vegetation could exist. Under such very unfavorable con- 

 ditions the Rouget develops to a satisfactory size, and bears regular 

 crops. In the garrigues, covered by a layer of mellow land more or 

 less gravelly, the Rouget bears most every year, and abundantly. The 

 frosts of the very severest winters have spared this variety, and very 

 important plantations can easily be found, the age of which certainly 

 exceed two hundred years on an average. It had multiplied greatly 

 in Languedoc before the development of vineyards. The Rouget 

 yields an oil of fair quality. A great quantity of this oil is consumed 

 in the form of pickles. For the latter use they are gathered up when 

 yet reddish. 



VERDALE.* 

 (Figure No. 4, Plate II.) 



SYNONYMES. Verdaou, Verdau, Vereau, Ayenturier (Frejus). Calassen (Lorgues, Var.). 

 Olea veridula, Gouan, Flor. Monsp. Olea media rotunda viridia, Tournefort. Olivo verdago, 

 Tablada. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This tree is of dwarf habit, half erect and has little vigor; trunk 

 thin, short, conical, canaliculate, with bark rough and greenish -gray; 

 branches slightly drooping, principally those at the top of the tree; 

 the tree has the general form of a ball, with a light cover; the roots 

 do not penetrate at a great depth, and the tree is frequently rooted 

 out by strong winds. Shoots scarce, easily grafted. 



Branches are not numerous, upright or slightly inclined, inserted 

 at a right angle, of a dirty yellow or light yellowish gray color; 

 freckles scarce and dim; knots pretty prominent. 



* Fruiting in several parts of this State. At Saratoga it is in bearing on very steep side 

 hills, so steep that they can hardly be cultivated. The trees this year were full of fruit 

 and doing well. 



