230 ON THE CDLTIVATION OF THE OLIVE. 



are the proper months to proceed with this operation. Propagation by- 

 layers and small cuttings is tedious, and need only be practised when 

 the other methods are impracticable. 



Although the propagation of the olive from seed cannot be recom- 

 mended as a method for staking the plantation, yet it should not be 

 altogether overlooked. If a few trees were occasionally raised in this 

 way it is very probable that a variety might be originated which would 

 suit the situation and the soil better than its parents. But this result 

 is by no means to be depended upon ; indeed the qualities of the seed- 

 ling tree are oftener found to be inferior rather than superior to those 

 of the parent, hence this method of propagation should only be adopted 

 as an experiment. 



After the plantation has been made, it is only requisite to keep down 

 the weeds ; should the land be. required for other crops, the tillage for 

 such will be an advantage rather than otherwise. Such crops as do 

 not root deeply, and are calculated not to impoverish the soil to any 

 great extent, are the most suitable. 



The proper time for gathering olives for the press is the eve of 

 maturity, which is in April or early in May. If delayed too long the 

 next crop is either wholly prevented or materially lessened, and the tree 

 is then only productive in the alternate years. At Aix, when the olive 

 harvest take3 place in November, it is annual. In Languedoc, Spain, 

 and Italy, where it is delayed till December or January, it is in alternate 

 years. The quality of the oil also depends upon the collection of the 

 fruit in the first stage of its maturity. 



The fruit should be carefully gathered by the hand, and the whole 

 harvest completed as quickly as possible. The outlay for preparing and 

 planting an acre of land with olive trees will be about 351. The alter 

 cultivation will cost no more than from 3^. to 4Z. a year ; but by the 

 economy of labour on a small farm this expense may, of course, be 

 greatly lessened. An acre of land will contain 30 trees, and if on the 

 average each tree produces 20 gallons of oil (in Europe the average is 

 greater) we shall have from this 600 gallons, which at the moderate 

 price of 5s. per gallon (in the colonies it is more than double this price), 

 will be worth 150Z. Now, the expense of gathering the fruit and pre- 

 paring the oil must be very great indeed not to leave an ample profit to 

 the cultivator. 



