594 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The great value and" importance of the olive tree is that it will thrive 

 and prosper in soils where nothing else of value would grow. Those 

 dry soils of arid aspect in many parts of California are the genuine 

 lands for raising the most productive forests of olives, worth, in due 

 time and at not distant period, millions of money. In Africa, in Greece, 

 and in some parts of Spain lands once abandoned for their sterility are 

 now the source of wealth and revenue to communities and to the Gov- 

 ernment. 



Irrigation. None. The olive trees require no irrigation. They are 

 only watered when transplanted until secured. 



Rainfalls. Thirty inches is the average. The rain-fall in the year 

 1881-'82 was 52 inches. 



Pruning. Of all the questions raised and argued with regard to the 

 culture of the olive tree, none has been more debated than the pruning ; 

 not only every country has its ways of pruning, but every district has 

 its manners and notions. On the other hand there are parts where the 

 olive is never pruned. 



The olive tree must undergo a certain amount of pruning, not to the 

 extent of the orange ; the old and bare wood must be removed j the 

 branches must be kept in such a trim so as not to exclude altogether 

 the sun and air from the head ; suckers must be avoided and those only 

 left required to fill a clear place of the head ; the foliage of the head 

 must be kept equally balanced. The olive produces flowers on the 

 branches and wood of the preceding year. It is rarely necessary to cut 

 large branches : some branches which have produced fruit for several 

 years in succession and at last present an appearance of dryness about 

 them, must be removed. By so doing, towards the end of winter it will 

 soon produce new shoots, which on the following year will bring forth 

 flowers. Olives must be thus pruned only every other two years. Fol- 

 lowing this practice from the beginning on young trees, the pruning will 

 be but slight and easy to perform. 



On pruning it is well to cover up at once the wounds on the tree with 

 a mixture of earth and fresh cow's dung well mixed, which is just as 

 good for the purpose and more economical than the varnish used by 

 grafters. 



The branches, leaves, etc., from pruning, which in some countries are 

 given to the cows and goats, are the proper manure for olive t^ees, and 

 it should be buried while green around the trees, as well as all the oily 

 waters and residue of the mills where the oil is made ; these wastes are 

 great fertilizers. 



Besides the frosts and excessive cold, the olive has other enemies in 

 the shape of insects, to combat which washes of vinegar or lime-water 

 and whitewashing the trees are necessary. It is highly beneficial to 

 keep the trees clear of moss and parasite vegetation. 



FELIX A. MATHEWS, 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Consul. 



Tangier, April 2, 1884. 



