CALIFORNIA OLIVE CULTURE IN POOR SOILS. 23 



should be thoroughly 'cultivated,' or plowed and harrowed; 

 and after the ' rainy season ' is over, the surface of the ground 

 should be well stirred at least once each month, so that it may 

 be in perfect condition to absorb atmospheric moisture during 

 the l dry season ' and be all ready for the first rain of the suc- 

 ceeding 'rainy season.' Two purposes are thus accomplished: 

 the land is kept in good tilth, and no weeds can raise their 

 unsightly and unprofitable heads." 



OLIVES IN POOE SOILS. 



When olive culture was in its incipiency almost every one 

 contemplating going into the business sought information 

 from "him that knew," and was ever ready to follow his 

 advice. The advice, then so freely given, that "the olive 

 should be planted on soils where no other tree would grow," 

 was followed to a considerable extent; but now all regret it, as 

 that advice proved to be erroneous and misleading, and caused 

 the financial ruin of many who took it. The olive, as do other 

 trees, requires the best conditions of climate, soil, etc., and 

 without these, paying returns from the tree cannot be expected. 

 None of the orchards that were planted in locations where 

 hardly anything else would grow, as was advised, have as yet 

 produced fruit to pay for their cultivation, and in most 

 instances have not produced fruit enough to pay for the 

 gathering; but where the trees have been given renewed atten- 

 tion by way of pruning, irrigation, fertilization, etc., they have 

 invariably responded by producing bountiful crops. In many 

 sections trees planted on poor soils were unable to withstand 

 the drought of the past two seasons. They shed their foliage 

 and the. limbs died back, as shown in the accompanying 

 illustration (p. 24). 



There are lands, especially in the coast regions, that retain 

 their moisture, which by thorough cultivation do not require 

 to be irrigated. To soils that are not retentive, in which olive 

 orchards have been planted, by advice that the tree would 

 grow and thrive without irrigatiop, these remarks apply. 



