926 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



FRUIT -BEARING AGE. 



The tree begins to bear trait at ten years of age, but it does not coine 

 to maturity until from thirty to fifty years. 



For the olives of commerce that is, to eat, either fresh or pickled the 

 young tree produces the best result ; the mature trees produce the best 

 oil. 



MODES OF PLANTING AND CULTIVATION. 



What is the process of planting and cultivation ? 



The reproduction of the olive tree may be accomplished by all the 

 modes known for trees. The best mode planting the seed or pit is 

 practiced here the least. The people prefer plan ting the sprouts which 

 come up from the roots of the tree, or which may be artificially made by 

 bending a twig and covering it with earth until it has taken root. At 

 the age of two years this stock may be grafted, or the operation is more 

 like that of " budding." The graft is cut all on one side and introduced 

 under the bark, then bound up in moist earth and allowed to grow. 

 The stock above the graft is cut off. 



The earth around and between the trees is tilled each year, and a 

 crop, sometimes of wheat or beans alternately, planted in the spring 

 and gathered in the autumn. The earth is manured every two years 

 and the trees are pruned every four years. 



THE BEST TREES. 



What variety of tree produces the best olives of commerce ? Are they 

 the selected fruit of the common olive, or a superior variety grown from 

 an improved tree? 



It is the same tree and the same fruit for oil as for commerce. But 

 the best olives for commerce grow on the young trees; they are larger 

 and plumper, and by selecting the fruit they obtain the finest quality, 

 which are then preserved for commerce. There is a species grown at 

 Nice for which is claimed a superiority of taste and fragrance. It is 

 distinguished by a small black spot on the blossom end of the fruit. 

 These olives are eaten in the country when ripe, are semi-dried and 

 slightly seasoned with salt. ^ 



TIME OF FRUIT GATHERING. 



At what age do the trees come to full bearing, and how long do they 

 remain fruitful? 



The trees begin to bear at ten years of age, but they do not reach 

 their full capability or maturity until from thirty to fifty years. They 

 continue fruitful for two and a half or three centuries. This is for grafted 

 fruit. The wild olive lives and bears until twice that age. In Provence 

 and other countries not so well adapted to them, they commence earlier 

 and also die earlier. The trees are smaller and the fruit can be picked 



