THE OLIVE IN VENETIA. , G99 



fibrous matter, passes into a larm^ vat, ivbi'm its freer aud purer portion 

 rises to the surface while the "worc/wa" or pnljiy mixture is drawn 

 off from below into large shallow basins, in which, when subjected to a 

 warmer temperature, the albumen coagulates, and the remaining oil, 

 with that already collected, is placed in stone jars ready for sale. From 

 the refnse flux, if subjected to fermentation, which causes the still re- 

 fractory oil vescicles to burst, a certain quantity of very bad oil may be 

 extracted, but this operation is generally left to the press hands for 

 their perquisites. 



Another process is still more primitive. Here the olives are placed 

 in a long woolen sack, and trampled under foot until the pulp is well 

 separated from the stones. The sack is then doubled on itself and 

 placed under the press, with constant additions of warm water as the 

 operation proceeds, and the oil obtained purified in the manner above 

 described. The refuse and unbroken stones are then sold to the own- 

 ers of grinding mills for a fresh extraction. The product obtained by 

 this simpler process, though less in quantity, is much preferred in com- 

 merce, being the pure extract of t!.e pulp alone, the unavoidable mixt- 

 ure with that of the kernels after grinding greatly impairing the flavor 

 of the whole. 



CrRCTJMSTANCES FAVORABLE TO THE GROWTH OF OLIVES. 



All the circumstances which favor the growth of the olive are such 

 as generally place it either on hillsides or the shelves at their feet, 

 where, well protected from the cold winds of the north, it may bask in 

 a long season of summer sun, and where, also, it finds oftener the light 

 soil of granitic or schistous detritus that suits it best, while the large 

 mixture of clay common to valleys and bottoms produces the damp and 

 compact formation of all others the most inimical to its nature. 



It is traditionally the plant of warm regions and of long dry seasons; 

 an over supply of water would be more injurious to it than otherwise, 

 and no irrigation is attempted or thought of here. However, moderate 

 watering at the opportune moment is always of benefit, and, as before 

 mentioned, those years when some rain occurs in August and Septem- 

 ber, improve the crop. Where the tree is intermittent, these are the 

 bearing years. 



Par from dreading the neighborhood of the coast, it has been said 

 that the olive is never found more than 150 kilometers from the sea; 

 and although instances are recorded of ancient plantations in Piedmont 

 somewhat farther inland, it is certainly true that the olive orchards of 

 Europe skirt the shores of the Mediterranean, and tlie most flourishing 

 are those that clothe the narrow margin of rocky soil between mountain 

 and sea. Those described above in the region of Verona, at about 125 

 kilometers from the lagoon of Venice, are among the farthest removed, 

 and not among the most prosperous. 



Some notice has been given above of the productix'eness of the olive. 



