198 FRUIT CULTURE 



Juglans regia (Juglandaceae). Walnut. The Walnut tree is 

 commonly cultivated on the hills of Northern India, where it 

 produces abundant crops. It is not, however, a success on the 

 plains, nor on the hills of Southern India. It has been tried at 

 Nuwara Eliya and Hakgala Gardens, Ceylon, but so far with- 

 out success. 



Morus indica (Urticaceae). Indian Mulberry. A small 

 quick-growing tree, native of Northern India, where it is commonly 

 cultivated. The fruit resembles a small pepper-corn, cylindrical 

 in shape, rather deficient in flavour, and quite inferior to the 

 European mulberry. There are two sorts, the "white" and the 

 " black," both being similar in taste. FIRMIXGER said : " the fruit, 

 such as it is, ripens in February in Bengal, but it is fit for little but 

 to be left to the birds." The Indian mulberry is now commonly 

 grown in Ceylon at low and medium elevations, especially at 

 School gardens, where its cultivation has been encouraged for the 

 purpose of affording food by means of its leaves to the mulberry 

 silk-worm. Easily propagated by cuttings. 



M. nigra. European mulberry. This is a native of Persia, 

 and has been introduced and established at Hakgala and some 

 other up-country gardens. I am informed that it bears plentifully 

 in the Haputale district (about 5,000 ft. alt.) in Ceylon, where the 

 fruits are used for making tarts. 



Olea Europea (Oleaceas). Olive. A small tree, native of 

 North-western Asia, and naturalised in the Mediterranean region. 

 It is extensively cultivated in Northern Africa, Southern Europe, 

 California, etc., both for its fruit, which is so largely used in 

 preserves and pickles, as well as for the extraction of the valuable 

 olive oil. Plants have been introduced into Ceylon, and grown 

 for many years without producing fruit worth speaking of, though 

 an odd fruit may be produced occasionally without being noticed. 

 MR. JAMES RYAN, of Talawakelle, picked a fruit from an olive tree 

 in his garden in 1908. Olives have not been found suited to the 

 hills in S. India, and even in the dry climate of Bangalore, trees 

 30 years old have remained unproductive. Olive cultivation has 

 of late been introduced into Australia and South Africa, with 

 prospects of success. In California, where it is now successfully 

 established, the crop is said to yield an average of 600 gallons 

 of olive oil per acre, the maximum return being as high as 2,000 

 gallons per acre. The tree is susceptible to either a very hot 

 or very cold climate, and thrives best in light soil of a limestone 



