THE OLIVE IN ITALY. 



645 



To carry out propagation by seeds it is uecessary first to prepare a 

 good sized seed-plot, euougli to coutaia all the youug plants develop- 

 ing therefrom, and there to remain for three years, after which time 

 they are to be planted in a reservoir for replanting. The seed plot 

 must not be exposed to the north, and the ground muse be clear of roots 

 and flint-stones. In winter it must be richly manured with animal ex- 

 crements, not quite decomposed, the ground deeply dug up, and always 

 kept free of grass. During the spring and summer seasons it is neces- 

 sary to keep it fresh and water it whenever necessary to help the seed- 

 ling to sprout. In July the young plants are out of the ground, and in 

 November they are 4 or 5 inches high. During the second year the seed- 

 plot is to be worked the same as the first year, and in October, or in 

 the coming spring season of the third year, the youug plants are large 

 enough to be transferred to the reservoir by taking oft' all the little 

 branches therefrom. 



Propagating by ovoU. — The ovoU (spring) is a bud found on rooty 

 stumps and on the larger roots. It has the shape and the size of a 

 goose's egg and shows out from the bark of trees. From each adult 

 plant no more than three or four ovoU are to be taken off', otherwisf 

 you hurt the tree. To obtain ovoli or talee instead of ruining many 

 plants it is better to cut down one or two trees, from which a few 

 hundred of them can be obtained for propagation. The said trees, 

 however, must be of a good quality, apt to produce fruit of 

 a white and juicy wood, and not reddish or veined. The 

 springs on the roots are to be preferred to those located on 

 the stumps of the trees, for the reason that the former are 

 always more tender and juicy; hence better adapted for 

 budding. 



Propagating by talee (stocks). — This is simply done by cut- 

 ting off from the best fruiting plants a bit of branch about 

 IJ leec long (Fig. 4), which is laid in the ground by the 

 largest end deeper down. The trees of the said stocks must 

 be vegetating and of a large size, with thick bark, and well 

 furnished with gems, wherefrom it is easy for rooting and 

 budding. In order to succeed, however, it is necessary to 

 lay it horizontally in a reservoir facing the same direcrioii 

 of its plant. Besides single talee propagation can also be 

 done by talee composta (composed stock, Fig. 5), which be- 

 forehand needs to be placed in a temporary reservoir, and only when 

 supplied with roots and buds is i)lanted in another one. This method 

 of propagating requires the identical work like the single talee, by 

 placing it horizontally in the ground, the largest end deeper down, as 

 Fig. 6. 

 After one year the young branches will provide themselves with 



Pig. i. 



