THE OLIVE IN SYRIA. 605 



I'hese two Varietlesj although smaller than the two others, are used 

 for oil, which is obtaiued by means of a lever or screw press, and they 

 are gathered when the fruit has become reddish and ripCi The sweet oil 

 is obtained by a cold extraction. The olives after being crushed in a mill 

 are placed in bags and put under press. The lamp-oil and that used 

 for the mauutacturiiig of soap is obtained by the hot system; that is to 

 say, after the first pressure the bags contaiumg the olives are submerged 

 in boiling water and pressed out again. The best oil is obtained Irora 

 olives before they are fully ripe. A shumbul, equal to about 147 to 150 

 pounds, gives 12 to 14 pounds of oil in the vicinity of Aleppo, while here 

 this quantity is reduced to one-half. 



Cultivation. — The olive tree is reproduced by burying a piece of root, 

 having many slips, in a rut one yard deep. When these slips shoot forth 

 one of them is cared for without irrigation, while the others are de- 

 stroyed. At the end of ten years this tree begins to give fruit in small 

 quantities, but when it reaches its fourteenth year it gives every other 

 year from 35 to 38 American pounds. The soil best suitedfor the grow- 

 ing of these trees is the reddish or light yellow one; the latter is, how- 

 ever, preferable. The plantation is made without irrigation or manure ; 

 a space of about 20 feet is lett between each tree; the soil is plowed two 

 or three times a year. The ground around the tree should also be dug 

 and turned over, and the root, as well as a part of the trunk, covered 

 with earth iu the form of a mound. The tree, however, should be regu- 

 larly pruned of the dry twigs every year. 



United States Consular Agency, 



Aleppo, April 16, 1884. 



F. POCHE, 



Consular Agent, 



BEIRUT. - 

 ItEPOHT BY CONSUL JJISSmGEE. 



Varieties, — The varieties of olives in this country are the Balady, the 

 Somukmoky and the Soory; but the best of tiiese for pickliug and oil 

 is the Balady. The trees grow in the littoral and middling high lands. 



Climate. — A cold climate does not suit olive trees. 



Irrigation, — Olive trees planted in soil suitable for irrigation are 

 watered twice, when necessary. 



Cultivation. — The laud should be plowed four times in the year. 

 Once in the beginning of winter in order that the rains may be absorbed 

 by the soil, and three times in the spring. 



* The several reports, herewith from Syria, with the exception of the report from 

 Damascus, were forwarded hy Consul Kissinger, being prepared for him by parties in 

 the districts represented. 



