OLIVES 71 



to its deep-rooted system, the natives do not trouble to 

 eradicate. It is also allied to Prosopis juli flora or algaroba 

 tree, of which there are a few specimens in the Island. 



OILS AND OIL SEEDS 

 Olives 



The olive tree grows wild in Cyprus, but the wild fruit 

 is small and bitter and yields an inferior oil. The culti- 

 vated trees are those which have been grafted, Owing 

 to the stringent regulations which have prohibited the 

 introduction of living plants from abroad, it has not been 

 possible to obtain from elsewhere good grafts of new 

 varieties. These regulations have lately been modified to 

 allow of importations by the Agricultural Department 

 under special restrictions, and now that the war has ended 

 it is hoped to obtain these much-needed olive grafts. 



This tree thrives well, almost all over the Island, up to 

 an altitude of about 2,300 ft., and numbers of vigorous 

 wild olive trees are to be met with, which only need 

 cleaning and grafting in order to bear fruit. 



Cyprus olives are divided into two classes, locally known 

 as (a) " adrouppes " or " drouppes," which are eaten in 

 the green or black stage, and (b) " ladoelies," which are 

 suitable both for eating and for oil extraction. 



Of the former, or " adrouppes," one kind is rather 

 large, with rough skin, having a rough, big stone, the other 

 is longer but of less diameter, and has a very thin, smooth 

 skin and the stone is smooth, curved and smaller. The 

 latter has a better taste and resembles the well-known Greek 

 olive of Calamata. Both these " adrouppes " are pre- 

 pared for the table while still green, and are known as 

 " kolymbates," or sometimes they are called " tsakkistes," 

 owing to the stone being slightly crushed in the process of 

 preparation. 



The " ladoelies " are of two distinct varieties, the larger 

 of which is mostly regarded as an edible olive, and con- 

 tains a less percentage of oil, while the other, or smaller 

 kind, is richer in oil contents, and is mainly used for oil 

 production, though it is sometimes eaten. 



