424 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



pine were held sacred by many races. In France, 

 when St. Martin was permitted to destroy the 

 temples, he was compelled to spare the holy fir 

 groves. 



The olive has become inseparably connected with 

 one of the earliest records of the human race, and 

 repeated references are made in the scriptures to its 

 beauty. It probably needs an educated eye to ap- 

 preciate the effect of its silver-like leaf, but it must 

 be refreshing to ride through one of these groves 

 when clothed with flowers, or when bowed down 

 with fat and oily berries. Of all fruit-bearing trees 

 the olive is the most prodigal of its flowers, but not 

 one in a hundred comes to maturity. The tree is 

 of slow growth, and except under peculiarly favour- 

 able circumstances, it bears no berries until the 

 seventh year, nor is the crop worth much until 

 the tree is ten or fifteen years old ; then it is ex- 

 tremely profitable, and continues to yield fruit to 

 extreme old age. There is little labour or care of 

 any kind required, and, if long neglected, it will 

 revive when the ground is dug or ploughed, and 

 begin afresh to yield as before. The fruit is indis- 

 pensable for the comfort, and. even the existence, of 

 the mass of the community in such places as Pales- 

 tine, where the berry, pickled, forms the general 

 relish to the dry bread. Early in the autumn the 

 berries begin to fall. They are allowed to remain 



