THK OLIVF. IN SICILY. 685 



injurious to the tree. The trees require a loose, dry soil. A hill side is 

 suit'able, provided there is no danger of denudation by water and the 

 soil is supported about the trees by terraces. 



The usual method of propagation is to sow the seed, plant suckers, 

 or off-shoots that spring up from the roots of the parent trees, or by 

 grafting the best varieties upon the wild-olive stock. 



An olive orchard may be commenced from cuttings in the following 

 manner : Prepare the ground by spading to the depth of 3 feet and 

 surround the same by a deep trench. Let the soil thus prepared re- 

 main for a time exposed to the sun. Take young vigorous branches 

 two or three inches in diameter from the kind of tree preferred; cut the 

 same into lengths of about one and a half feet, being careful not to in- 

 jure the bark. Smear each end of the cutting with stable manure, coat- 

 ing the same with ashes. Then plant the cuttings upright in the soil 

 so that the upper end will be a couple of inches beneath the surface. 

 Care must be taken to j^lant the cutting the right end up, as upon the 

 tree; otherwise it will not take root. 



Many prefer to grow the wild olive from the seed, and when grown to 

 the proper size, graft upon its stock the best varieties. Whichever 

 method is resorted to, the time for planting must be in the latter part 

 of the spring equinox. 



The first year after planting, the ground should be frequently hoed; 

 and in the second and subsequent years the rake must be used, that 

 the young roots may acquire strength and vigor in a mellow soil. For 

 the first two years the young plant must not be pruned. The third year 

 it should be pruned, leaving but two branches thereon. During all this 

 time the ground should be hoed and raked frequently. In the fourth 

 year the weaker of the two branches must be removed. After cultivat- 

 ing thus for five years the plants are ready for transplanting to the 

 orchard. 



In transplanting to the orchard, a distance of sixty or more feet must 

 be maintained between the trees, where the soil is rich. In poor soil 

 the distance should be thirty or more feet apart. 



A year before transplanting to the orchard, the holes for the trees 

 should be dug to the depth of 4 feet. This should be done that the soil 

 of the holes may become fertilized by the rays of the sun. If the trees 

 are to be transplanted in autumn the ground must be dry : if in spring 

 the soil should be fresh and the trees moved before they commence to bud. 

 Prior to planting it is well to mark the position of the plants as to the 

 points of compass, and give them the same position in the orchard. 



The young orchard (thus commenced) must be plowed and hoed at 

 least twice a year. After the solstice, when the earth erodes by the 

 heat, care must be taken that the roots of the young trees do not become 

 exposed to the sun. After the autumnal equinox equal care must be 

 had (especially if the orchard be upon a hill-side) that the rains do not 

 denude the roots. Each year the shoots that put forth from the stein 



