OLIVE-TREE. 6Q 



rably bitter ; if oyer-ripe, it will be unguinous. The kind of trees 

 that yield coarse oil have this property : they are still, however, ex* 

 pressed for the use of lamps and soaperies. 



The olives for expression are gathered in November or Decem- 

 ber. They should be put in hair or woollen bags, and pressed 

 immediately to obtain a pure and fine oil : for inferior purposes 

 they may remain in heaps, and be pressed with less care in the 

 gross. The fruits are first bruised in a round trough, under a mill- 

 stone, rolling perpendicularly over them ; and when sufficiently 

 mashed are put into the trough of an olive-press, bearing down 

 upon them by means of a strong screw. By turning ihe screw all 

 the liquor is pressed out of the olives, and is called virgin-oil; after 

 which hot water being poured upon the remainder in the press, a 

 coarser oil is obtained. Olive-oil will not keep good longer than a 

 year ; after which period it becomes rancid. 



Oil of olives is largely employed in medicine in the form of bal- 

 sams, liniments, emollients, and ointments. It is found useful as 

 an antidote against the poison of vipers, and insects of various 

 kinds, The best soap is made of it, mixed with Alicant salt-wort 

 and quick-lime, 



2. 0. Capensis. 

 Cape Olive. 



A shrub, with a straight jointed trunk ; leaves ovate, very entire, 

 fiat or waved, paler beneath ; flowers white, small, in racemes, ap* 

 pearing in June and July,] 



2. 0. Americana. 

 American-Olive. 

 A plant with leaves opposite, lanceolate elliptic, very entire, ever- 

 green j racemes narrowed, axillary ; all the bractes permanent, con* 

 nate, small; segments of the corol resolute; male and female flowers 

 on the same plant with hermaphrodites. 



4. 0. Fragraw, 

 Sweet-scented Olive. 

 A large tree of Japan ; branches obscurely four-cornered ; leaves 

 f3 



