658 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



(2)- There is La Fungositd vascolare (vascular fungus). 



(3) La Lupa (she wolf), is a very cancer to the plant, which, although 

 its exterior is sound it is rotten within, permitting the rain to enter and 

 lodge in the interior. 



The lupa may be apparent or not. It is necessary to extract it and 

 thoroughly cleanse the infected part with a sponge saturated with a 

 wash of ointment San Fiacre. 



FIG. 34. 



(4) Lo Screpolo (gap) is caused by excessive heat or cold. The gaps 

 caused by the former are superficial, and are also cured with the same 

 salve San Fiacre. 



Among the parasite plants hurtful to the olives are noted the Muschi 

 (musks), the Licheni (lichen), and the Borracina, which establish them- 

 selves in the bark of trees, on which they live in part. 



The production of musks and lichens is due to the dampness abound- 

 ing in some olive groves, or on account of the quality of the soil or 

 little ventilation. To free the plants therefore from it it is necessary to 

 scrape them with a well-sharpened spatula, and brush the infected part 

 with whitewash on a winter day, but not cold or rainy. 



Besides those there is also 11 Male nero (black disease), which is pro- 

 duced by a fungus, botanically known as Antenaria olacophila, Chados- 

 porium funago, which sometimes causes the plant to sicken and die. 

 Its multiplication is due to presence of the Cocciniglia; hence by destroy- 

 ing the coccus you free the plant from the black disease. 



Frost and strong winds are also enemies to the plant, and the damage 

 which the former causes may be known only in the month of *April or 

 May, just at the time when it can be partly remedied. Sometimes it 

 happens that through intense cold the plant dies at the base. In that 

 case, if it is over thirty years old, the plant must be cut off near the 

 ground so that new springs will grow therefrom, some of which will 

 take the place of the dead plant. A long drought is also hurtful to the 

 olive culture, for the reason that the plant loses its leaves, its vegetation 

 is checked, and it yields no fruit. 



Strong winds may also ruin the plants by breaking the branches or 

 dislocating them. Finally, were I to mention other insects, diseases, 

 etc., it might have a depressing effect on the California growers. Con- 



