THE OLIVE IN PALESTINE. 603 



Maturity. — Trees commence fruiting from tlie tenth to tlie fourteenth 

 year. This includes the time from the first starting of the young wild 

 olive trees. Whore a very young wild tree is grafted, fruit may be 

 produced in six years; but this is exceptional. 



Yield. — It is difficult to arrive at the average yield per tree or acre. 

 A very small tree may produce about two measures of olives, or nearly 

 48 pounds, while a large tree in full bearing yields a crop of as many 

 as twelve measures. An average yield for a medium-siged tree, under 

 fair conditions, ought to reach from five to eight measures, or from 

 about 120 to 190 pounds. It is computed that it takes a measure of 

 olives, or nearly 24 pounds of the fruit to produce three quarts of 

 oil. The yield per acre, depending on so many variable conditions, 

 such as the age of the trees, their distance planted apart, the nature 

 of the soil, the culture bestowed, etc., can not be given with any cer- 

 tainty, especially as no statistics are kept here. 



Planting. — The usual distance apart at ^niich trees are planted is 

 30 feet ; but this varies. Often very old trees are seen within 4 or 5 

 feet of each other, and even closer, in groups of from three to five indi- 

 viduals. These would seem to be the descendants of one original tree, 

 the trunk of which, having reached extraordinary dimensions, has de- 

 cayed at the center, leaving those outstanding parts of the circum- 

 ference separated, and finally forming several trees out of one. In fact, 

 unless utterly rooted out an olive tree appears to be indestructible 

 and may live to an indefinite age, and when cared for will continue 

 bearing to the last. Tradition says that some of the older trees of Pal- 

 estine date back to the time of the Eomans. The very old trees in the 

 Garden of Gethsemaue are supposed to be of the time of Christ. They 

 are unquestionably of extreme age, and the oldest olive trees I have 

 ever seen, yet those venerable trees bear annually a crop of fruit. 



Propagating. — The olive tree is propagated by being grafted on young 

 trees of the wild olive, which are grown for the purpose. The young 

 wild trees, being planted at a distance apart of about 30 feet and at suf- 

 ficient depth to prevent the disturbance of their roots by the plow, for 

 other crops are always grown between the trees, are generally watered 

 to insure their taking and more rapid growth. But irrigation is not 

 absolutely necessary even at this stage, and where there is difficulty in 

 procuring water, or expense attending it, it is omitted. Irrigation, 

 however, unquestionably produces a ^ore luxuriant and satisfactory 

 growth. At the age of from eight to ten years the young trees are 

 grafted with whatever varieties it is desired to propagate, and they com- 

 mence bearing in from three to four years. 



Where trees are totally neglected they frequently cease bearing, but 

 it is astonishing how quickly they recover from the most shameful 

 usage, immediately responding with a crop to kindly treatment. 



There are no printed reports, information, or statistics issued by the 

 Government or otherwise. 



