THE OLIVE IN ITALY. 643 



Situation. — The success of olive culture greatly depends on situation 

 and soil. Calculating the method of vegetution of this plant, it may be 

 determined that iu warm climates situations facing from east to north 

 are to be preferred, so that the plant will not suffer from the summer 

 heat. In climates less wsrm, however, an eastern exposure is best, 

 and in climates of the last zone a southern exposure is best. As above 

 stated, in climates less warm the expositions to east are to be preferred, 

 but if the locality is subject to frequent white frosts, then it is better to' 

 cultivate it iu expositions facing west and north, for the reason that 

 exposed to east the plants covered with white frost, and quickly touched 

 by the morning sun, the sudden change from one temperature to an- 

 other, they run the risk of getting dried. 



As far as inclinations are concerned, those of hilly and rolling ones 

 are to be preferred, for the reason that olive plants cultivated on flat 

 land, although they i)r(»sent a flourishing vegetation, yield fruit too 

 rich in oil, while those situated on hilly and rolling land give best re- 

 sults. The same may be said of the trees planted in a mild tempera- 

 ture. 



In flat land the fruit sets badly, becomes watery, yields less oil, and 

 more dregs, is subject to fall before maturity, and is easily assailed by 

 insects and disease. The trees on the highest zone of temperature suf- 

 fer from the cold, and have of course less dui'ation. It is, therefore,wise 

 that in planting an olive grove preference must be given to middle 

 altitude of hilly and rolling lands without calculating the majestic 

 aspect the trees may show on flat soils, for their fruit yields but a little 

 oif. 



Soil. — The oli\e tree is a plant which adapts itself to any soil, 

 even to the most sterile one; but it does not give everywhere the 

 same quantity of fruit. In the soil it likes a certain coolness, but not 

 exceedingly, for the reason that too much dampness, stagnated in 

 the ground, renders it too hard, thus causing damage both to roots 

 and trees. 



The best soil for olive culture is the calcareous siliceousargellaceous, 

 rather deep and permeable. A stony soil, covered with a little ground 

 sufficient to let the young trees vegetate, may be adapted for the olive 

 culture. The proofs thereof are the trees grown on the hills around Mes- 

 sina and on Mount Etna, which are covered with but a few centimeters 

 of ground. In compact soil and those on impermeable subsoil, the 

 olive plant dies. 



Fertilizing.— The manure adaTjited. for fertilizing the olive tree must 

 be subordinate to its composition. 



