70 



long, and the thicker the better. I was told by a very intelligent old olive- 

 grower that the diameter of the truncheon should not be less than 4in. to 

 5in. at the small end. This huge truncheon, or limb, is placed erect in a hole 

 3ft. deep dug for the purpose ; hence, whilst 3ft. of the limb are below ground, 

 5ft. to 6ft. are above it in the shape of a stem for the future tree. One can 

 realise readily enough that a young tree of this kind, set up at so much expense, 

 would stand in need of special protection. Its leverage above ground is 

 very considerable, and if in the early stages it be jarred or moved in any way, 

 whilst the young roots are in process of formation, there will be a tendency 

 to tear the latter away from the stock and otherwise hinder their normal 

 development. The huge mound of earth which is now heaped up against 



One- Year-Old Olive Tree Mounded up and Grafted. 



the stem will serve to protect the tree against accidents of this kind. This, 

 however, is very far from being the main object of the mound. This long, 

 denuded stem, 5ft. to 6ft. in height, offers an enormous evaporating surface 

 in the summer months ; hence the mound of earth fills a double purpose 

 it affords support to the young tree, enabling it to make suitable root growth 

 at its ease on the one hand, and on the other it protects the plant from the 

 desiccating influence of the sun's rays and of bleak winds. During the 

 summer months these young olive trees are sometimes watered by the simple 

 but somewhat primitive device of boring oblique holes in the mounds of 

 earth and pouring water into them. 



