OLIVES 273 



The bush forms are common in the southeastern states, the 

 Brown Turkey variety being one of the smallest and hardiest. The 

 Celeste is a little larger and about as hardy. It is used abundantly 

 in orchard planting in the Gulf afid Atlantic states. The Magnolia 

 variety is grown in orchards of Texas southward from Beaumont. 

 Trees are set from ten to fifteen feet apart in orchards. 



In California the fig becomes a very large tree. Orchards are 

 set thirty to forty feet between trees. The Smyrna figs are now 

 abundantly planted in California, but other horticultural forms 

 are still being used a great deal. 



Figs are readily propagated from cuttings. The young trees are 

 set in orchards at one to two years of age, and should bear in 

 about the third season from setting. The yields are usually good 

 and the results are encouraging to growers, as the trees are long 

 lived and there are few enemies. 



Cajrrification of figs is the name given to the work of insects 

 which corresponds to the pollination of other fruits. This is im- 

 portant with the Smyrna fig industry. A few wild figs are grown 

 in each orchard to serve as the homes of the special form of insects 

 that do this work. 



Olives. — This crop is mainly produced in the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean. Olives were first grown in America by the 

 Franciscan missionaries and others in California, Arizona, and 

 New Mexico. They are now grown in those states (Fig. 194,D) 

 and somewhat in Florida. One and a half million trees were report- 

 ed in California in 1915. 



Propagation of Olives. — The most common method of propa- 

 gating olives is by tip cuttings of the current year's wood, four to 

 six inches long. Remove all but a leaf or two and root the cuttings 

 in sharp sand under glass with some bottom heat. They are then 

 set in nursery rows for one, two, or three years, where they are 

 cultivated and fertilized well. 



Seedlings are also raised and planted in commercial groves. 

 Many seeds are too hard to germinate and the ends must be clipped 

 to aid in germination. 



Grafting of seedlings after they are set in orchards is sometimes 

 practiced. 



The Mission variety is the oldest and most common in California 

 orchards. Smaller varieties such as Chemlali and Redding are also 

 propagated, but chiefly asstock for orchard grafting. Sevillano is a 

 large-fruited variety used for pickling. 

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