BOOK V. viii. 3-6 



the Myrtle. Of these the berry of the Posia is the 

 most agreeable, that of the Royal the showiest, and 

 both are more suitable for eating than for oil. The 

 oil from the Posia has an excellent flavour as long as 

 it is green, but it goes bad within a year. The Orchis 

 also and the Shuttle-olive are better gathered for 

 eating than for their oil. The Licinian pro'duces the 

 best oil, the Sergian the most abundant, and, 

 generally speaking, all the bigger olives are more 

 suitable for eating, the smaller for oil. No olive- 

 trees of these kinds can stand a very warm or a very 

 cold climate ; and so in very hot regions the olive- 

 tree rejoices in the north side of a hill, in cool districts 

 in the south side ; but it does not like either low- 

 lying or lofty situations but prefers moderate slopes 

 such as we see in the Sabine territory in Italy and all 

 over the province of Baetica." Most people think 

 that this tree either cannot live or is not productive 

 more than a hundred miles from the sea, but in some 

 places it thrives well. The Posia stands the heat 

 best, the Sergian the cold. 



The most suitable kind of ground for olive-trees is 

 that which has gravel underneath, if chalk mixed 

 with coarse sand forms the top-soil. Not less highly 

 esteemed is ground where there is rich sand, but 

 denser soil also is well adapted to receive this tree, if it 

 is moist and fertile. Chalk must be wholly rejected, 

 and even more land which abounds in springs and 

 where ooze is always standing. Land which is lean 

 because of sand is unfriendly to the olive-tree ; so is 

 " Columella's native province in S.W. Spain. 



• centesimum S : censimum A : sexagesimum a: lx c. 

 *' postea SA : posita ac. 



73 



