108 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



well drained soil which is supplied with sufficient lime. If 

 young trees for planting are to be obtained from seedlings, it 

 is well to soak the seed for several hours in a lo per cent, solu- 

 tion of caustic potash before planting, otherwise they require a 

 long time to sprout. Cuttings of almost any size or age may 

 be rooted in the nursery, but these cuttings should preferably 

 not be less than }i inch in diameter. The young seedlings 

 are grafted near the surface of the ground. The olive requires 

 essentially the same cultural methods as citrus fruits. In 

 California this means clean cultivation, the occasional use of 

 cover crops, and rather heavy applications of irrigation water 

 at long intervals. 



The yield of olives in the profitable orchards of California 

 varies from 1,000 to 8,000 pounds per acre. For pickling 

 large olives are selected, while for use in obtaining oils the 

 smaller fruit and culls may be successfully employed. The pre- 

 ferred varieties of olives in California are Mission, Sevallana, 

 Manzanillo, and Ascolano. The process of pickling olives in- 

 cludes three essential steps. The olives are first soaked for 

 about 12 hours in a solution of caustic potash at the rate of ij^ 

 pounds to 12 gallons of water. As soon as the lye has pene- 

 trated nearly to the pit the olives are removed to pure water 

 in which they remain for 2 or 3 days, the water being changed 

 at least once a day. After the lye and bitterness have been re- 

 moved the olives are placed in salt brine of gradually increas- 

 ing strength. For olives which are intended to be bottled or 

 canned a brine containing 5 pounds of salt to 12 gallons of 

 water is strong enough. 



For use as green pickles, olives are picked when fully grown, 

 but before coloring. For use as ripe pickles or for oil olives 

 are picked after coloring, but before turning black. The olive 

 industry in California is a thriving and profitable one. At 

 present the olive industry ranks along with the walnut indus- 

 try among the most profitable agricultural operations in Cali- 

 fornia. During the development of the olive industry in 



