( i?) 



dancy of moisture, and prefers loose, calca- 

 rious, fertile lands mingled with stones, such 

 as the territory of Attica and of the south of 

 France. The quality of its fruit is essentially 

 affected by that of the soil : it succeeds in 

 good loams which arc capable of bearing 

 corn , but on fat lands it yields oil of an in- 

 ferior flavour, and becomes laden with a bar- 

 ren exuberance of leaves and branches. The 

 temperature of the climate is a consideration 

 of more importance than the nature of the 

 soil, as all the varieties of the Olive dread 

 the extremes both of heat and cold. Neither 

 do they delight in very low, nor in very ele- 

 vated situations , but rather in gentle declivi- 

 ties, with an exposure adapted to the climate, 

 where the fresh breezes , playing among 

 the branches, may contribute to the health 

 of the tree, and to the fineness of the fruit. 

 Notwithstanding the delicacy of its com- 

 plexion, the Olive is extremely tenacious of 

 life. When the trunk has perished by frost or 

 by fire, it sprouts anew ; and we are assured 

 that if a bit of the bark, with a thin layer of 

 wood , is buried in the earth , it becomes a 

 perfect plant. 



