SEMITROPICAL FRUITS 167 



than is needed. Since it cannot be taken out, the only remedy 

 is to plant the orchard in a soil that has less. Limy soils are 

 generally of a whitish color, but the way -to be certain is to 

 take a little of the subsoil and pour on it a few drops of nitric 

 acid. If many bubbles arc given off, lime is probably pres- 

 ent in large quantities, and oranges and lemons will not 

 thrive well in this ground. 



The Olive 



The olive does best in a well-drained soil, though, like 

 the orange and the lemon, it will yield good crops in a variety 

 of soils. It prefers warm, dry climates, but will withstand 

 some frost. It can be grown from buds, seeds, grafts, tips 

 of twigs, cuttings, sprouts, suckers, and layers, but because 

 it is a slow grower, the first three methods are not often used. 



Olive trees do not begin bearing until about eight years of 

 age. They have been known to live to be a thousand years 

 old and to attain a height of forty feet. 



The fruit is sometimes pickled in brine and sometimes 

 dried. Great quantities are also grown for the oil which is 

 very abundant in the fruit. The tree is very free from insect 

 enemies and is useful as an ornamental as well as a shade 

 tree. 



The Fig 



No fruit can be grown more generally over the state of 

 California than the fig, and no other with so little care and 

 risk. This tree will thrive well on any soil one would think 

 of selecting for any of the common orchard trees, though 

 it will succeed on a wider range of soils than will any of the 

 others. It will bear well in any climate warm enough to 



