10 



Leaves, linear, short, very narrow, well characterized by their fee- 

 ble dimensions. (Length, four to six centim.; width, one half to 

 three quarters centim.) 



Nerves, very prominent, of light green; edges drawn back and 

 forming a regular well marked channel. Murcon not detached, 

 little prominent, little acute, situated in the plane of the leaf, 

 slightly inclined in the direction of its curvature; upper face dull 

 light green, a little wrinkled; under face dull white; limb of medium 

 thickness; petiole short, thin, bent round so as to bring the upper 

 faces of opposite leaves together; all the leaves are situated in the 

 same plane on the branch, and frequently form with the latter a very 

 acute angle. 



The leaves are pretty numerous at the ends of the branches, scarce 

 elsewhere; cover of the tree light. 



Fruits isolated, never gathered in great numbers, with peduncle 

 of middling length, thin, dirty green, inserted into a shallow depres- 

 sion; big, nearly round, slightly truncated at the top infun dibulrform 

 (funnel-shaped); very green till nearly ripe, then of a vinous red,, 

 and finally of a deep black, somewhat dull; very hoary at maturity: 

 olive soft, with pretty thick skin; pulp fleshy and little juicy; pit 

 very big, of same form as the olive, with surface but slightly fur- 

 rowed; very early. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The Verdale is much cultivated in Languedoc, notably about Mont- 

 pellier, Beziers, and in Gard; it is exclusively cultivated in some 

 communes (for instance at Aniane, Herault), where green olives for 

 table use are prepared on a large scale. The Verdale is also found 

 in Vaucluse and in Bouehes-du- Rhone, but not so extensively as in 

 Languedoc. It is a very early olive, but little productive of oil: it 

 also roots pretty quickly when fully ripe. On the other hand, the 

 Verdale deserves to be propagated when green olives are wanted, for 

 it is a nice olive, generally much appreciated for the table, and is the 

 subject of a very important trade; it must, however, be set out only 

 in good ground, or in ground of medium quality, as its productions 

 fall out in bad soil. The Verdale is pretty sensitive to cold, and the 

 dropping off of the olives frequently diminishes the crop. 



OLIVIERE. 

 (Figure No. 5, Plate III.) 



SYNONYMES. Ouliviere, Oulliviere,()ulivieira (Herault). Pointue (Herault); Pounchudo- 

 barralenquo (Provence). Gallinenque, Galinenque. Rozier, Amoreux( Languedoc). Liviere, 

 Laurine. Kozier. Michelenque. Amoreux((j<ird). ( ?) Bouteyenque. Amoreux (Beaueaire). 

 Plant d Aiguieres. Amoreux (Marseille). Angelon Sage Reynaud (Gard). (?) Guana 

 (Roussillon). Glea europaea media oblonga angulosa Gonan Flor. Monsp. Glea europaea 

 laurifolia. Risso. Glea fructu majusculo et oblongo. Tournefort. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This tree is hardy, never of a very large size, and spreads out; trunk 

 cylindrical; bark blackish gray, full of fissures about the trunk and 

 heavier limbs; conies otf in short regular strips; the heavy limbs are 

 either horizontal or inclined downward, their many branches falling 

 to the ground; the whole tree looks like a cylinder much broader than, 

 high; has usually but few shoots. 



