13 



pit pretty big, of similar form as that of the fruit, bent round at both 

 ends, with furrowed surface, ending by two points, the lower being 

 the sharper; fruit ripens early. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The Lucques is not a very common variety; it is found in large 

 tracts in France only where the propagation of olives for the table 

 forms a special industry. It seems to have originated in Italy, where 

 it grows in several places, notably at Verona. It is commonly found 

 in Languedoc, around Beziers 3 Montpellier, Nimes, Lunel, but it is little 

 cultivated in Provence, except in the Lower Alps; it is also found in 

 certain parts of the Oriental Pyrenees, whence it was brought to Spain. 



The Lucques is a tolerably vigorous tree, of medium longevity. All 

 writers who have studied this variety consider it as very enduring in 

 cold weather and adapted for cultivation on the extreme boundaries 

 of the olive tree region. It may be found in the most various situa- 

 tions, but it grows to better advantage and gives larger crops in deep, 

 hilly lands; it is not to be recommended for garrique spile (waste 

 lands), or those of poor quality, in which it gives inferior results. 

 The production of the Lucques is relatively small, but this cause of 

 inferiority is partly compensated by the beauty and excellent quality 

 of the olives gathered green for pickling purposes. It is the most 

 highly prized and best table olive, and it always commands the high- 

 est price in the market when gathered at the right time. The oil 

 furnished by the Lucques is of very good quality, but its fruits are 

 very seldom used for that purpose; except in cases of disease, the 

 olives are always gathered up green, as stated above. 



PlGALE. 



(Figure No. 7, Plate V.) 



SYNONYMES. Pigaou (Herault). Pigalle Amoreaux (Montpellier), Nimes, Beziers. Pig- 

 ataqo, Amoreaux (Narbonne). Pognue. Amoreaux (Grasse). Pigau, Marbree, Tiquetee, 

 Rozier, Olea minor rotunda, ex rubro et nigro variegata. Garidel Olea variegata Gouan. 

 Flor. Monsp.( ?) Olea pignola, Risso. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This tree is tall, semi-erect, and hardy, canaliculate trunk; bark 

 grayish, knotty, coming off in large pieces about the trunk and pri- 

 mary ramifications. 



The main limbs are most always upright or semi-erect, seldom hor- 

 izontal. 



It is one of the tallest olive trees of Languedoc, when allowed to 

 grow without heavy amputations. 



Shoots numerous and hardy. 



Branches numerous, hardy, big, smooth, of dirty gray color, much 

 swollen at their insertion, which is at an acute angle; wood slightly 

 channeled on young branches, with small freckles, not numerous and 

 irregularly scattered; knots little prominent. 



The branches are slightly drooping in general; leaf lanceolate, rather 

 short, large enough (mean length six to seven centim., width one and 

 one fourth to one and three fourths), a little drawn in towards the 



