CALIFORNIA OLIVE CULTURE TRANSPLANTING. 29 



scale, the fungus produced by the excrement of which clogs up 

 the breathing functions of the tree and retards the growth of 

 both tree and fruit. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



Olive trees are transplanted from the nursery to orchard 

 form in the spring of the year, varying from February to 

 April, according to the climatic conditions of the locality. 

 There are three methods pursued in preparing the trees. One 

 is to take up the tree with the utmost care, trimming all the 

 shoots along the body of the tree to within four or six inches of 

 their base. The tree puts forth new shoots at the apex of those 

 cut back, which in time form a symmetrical top. Another 

 method is to cut the main stock to within twelve or fourteen 

 inches of the ground, so that the tree becomes low-trained in 

 the form of a bush. The third method consists of shaping the 

 tree in the nursery and transplanting it without removing any 

 of the foliage. It is taken up with earth adhering to the roots 

 and is not allowed to grow too large (in the nursery) as the 

 larger the tree the more difficult the operation. 



* ' In transplanting olive trees from the nursery to the 

 orchard the roots and tops should be protected as much as 

 possible from the sun and wind. The work should not be 

 done when a dry wind is prevailing. The trees should be 

 taken up in as dormant a condition as possible. They are 

 usually in this state in January and February. If it is not 

 convenient to plant them then, they may be taken up before 

 they commence to grow and heeled-in and set out later in the 

 season. At the time of planting, the soil should be settled 

 around the roots with water. The olive tree is very tenacious 

 of life, and may be successfully transplanted at one year of age 

 up to the size of large bearing trees, this having been done 

 often. Although most varieties are apt to grow unshapely in 

 the nursery, they become symmetrical after being out in the 

 orchard two or three years. As some of the roots are cut off 

 in digging, some of the branches should be removed at the time- 



* John S. Calkins, of Pomona. 



