28 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



also apply with equal force to other varieties. Pruning to 

 encourage the formation of fruit-bearing wood also becomes 

 very essential. 



Aside from the causes already mentioned, are the following 

 reasons why the olive fails to produce a crop in paying quan- 

 tities: 



1. Unsuitable soil selection, not naturally well drained, hav- 

 ing a strata of " harjlpan " or clayey, uncongenial conditions 

 for roots too close to the surface. Soil not of ample richness, 

 of too high or too low altitude. 



2. Planting on sites too much exposed, without giving the 

 trees protection by planting others to serve as windbreaks, etc. 



3. The existence of a frost line. Frost during blooming 

 period is very detrimental to the setting of the fruit, and 

 in the fall and early winter to the fruit, especially during its 

 tender period or first stages of ripening. 



4. Planting varieties . of indiscriminate selection, without 

 regard to locality, adaptability, or the suitableness of stocks 

 used, etc. 



5. Planting trees too deep or too shallow, which everywhere 

 has proved a grave mistake. 



6. Planting too close. Trees, after becoming large, require 

 abundance of soil of which there is not enough for the roots of 

 all. Also, the shade from adjoining trees is very detrimental. 



7. Lack of fertilizers failing to supply the elements of 

 nutrition needed to secure healthy growth of trees, that the 

 particular soil may lack, whether in a virgin state or after the 

 growth of trees has exhausted same. 



8. Want of proper pruning, such as the trees may need 

 under varying conditions, especially to encourage fruit-bearing 

 wood. 



9. Injudicious cultivation, such as cutting the fibrous roots 

 just before a dry spell, or during blooming time. 



10. Want of cultivation, allowing the weeds to grow, when 

 the tree roots should have the soil to themselves, especially in 

 dry weather, or allowing the soil to become dry after plowing, 

 without breaking up the clods and pulverizing the ground. 



11. Endeavoring to get two or more crops out of the same 

 ground by growing other plants between and more or less close 

 to the trees, which is detrimental to both. 



12. Allowing the trees to become infested with the black 



