\ 



12 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



roots being more symmetrical; but as the plants make slow 

 growth the first few years, a longer time is required to grow 

 trees by this method than by any other. Trees grown from 

 seed seldom produce fruit in less than eight years, and the 

 plants must be at least two years old before they can 

 be budded or grafted. 



Those intending to plant pits should carefully select 

 V- -x those from varieties having perfect kernels. It is not 

 necessary that the variety from which the pits are 

 taken for planting be one possessing high qualities for 

 pickles or oil, because all fruits when grown from seed 

 have a tendency to revert to the wild type, or become 

 of a modified type, entirely distinct from the parent 

 tree; but it is important that the tree be of a thrifty 

 J sort. Seed from dwarf trees should be avoided, as they 

 produce plants of a still smaller habit. 



The seeds, having been freed from the pulp, are 

 [ washed in water containing some lye or ashes, to 

 remove all the oil adhering to them; they are then 

 washed in clear water, and, after drying in the shade, 

 are mixed with moist sand and kept in a moistened 

 condition till spring, to be then sown. The use of lye 

 is necessary to render the shell of the pit a little less 

 compact, in order that it may be penetrated by moist- 

 ure. The lye roughens the shell and thus gives access 

 to humidity. 



The sowing is done in February or March. As olive 

 seeds do not all germinate the first year of sowing, it 

 is advisable not to destroy the seed-bed until the end 

 of the second year. Olive pits often continue to germi- 

 nate in certain quantities for over two years. In order 

 to hasten germination pits may be advantageously 

 split by use of an iron vise. The longer part of the 

 pit is placed between the jaws of the vise, and by turn- 



Ollve seed- L . . T . 



ling plant, ing the screw the shell is split. It is not necessary to 



take out the kernel; on the contrary, it is better to 

 one naif.) i eav e it in the cracked shell. 



The seeds are sown in ordinary seed-boxes, with bottoms 

 perforated to admit of good drainage. The boxes are then filled 

 with fine earth (sandy loam) to within three inches of the top; 

 the kernels are spread on top of this and covered with one 



