48 THE OLIVE 



the complete development of the plant, and the abundant produc- 

 tion of the best quality of fruit. Hence, it is safe to assume, that 

 the olive prefers a soft, friable, moderately cool soil, and one rich in 

 lime and potash; a permeable soil, such as a limey clay of medium 

 consistency, not inclined to either dryness or humidity. The roots 

 would then encounter no obstacle in extending themselves, and the 

 air and moisture could circulate sufficently. Lime, abounding phos- 

 phates, magnesia, with an abundance of silicates of alum and mer- 

 cury, and a sufficiency of potash and soda, are the chemical and 

 physical requisites which this tree will find most advantageous to 

 its development, and cause it to produce abundantly, and, provided 

 other circumstances are equal, give the very best oiL It is seen 

 that the olive will flourish wherever its roots will penetrate easily, 

 and there is no deficiencv of lime and alkali, such as a loose soil of 

 rocky clay, or sand of volcanic or granite formation. But, while 

 the olive will subsist on many different soils, and prosper in several, 

 it is not to be concluded that it may be condemned to bare, sterile, im- 

 poverished ground, where not even a forest tree would be nourished. 



The latitude must largely guide one in selecting the kind of soil 

 for an olive orchard. 



In Andalucia and Valencia, in southern Spain, the mean sum- 

 mer temperature is as high as eighty-two degrees. There, they hold 

 red soils in very low estimation, and prefer the light colored or 

 white; considering that the red attracts too much heat, and requires 

 too much fertilization and irrigation, without which the tree gives 

 no fruit in that latitude. There, a very porous soil, giving free pas- 

 sage to moisture, and evaporating freely, requires repeated fertilizing 

 and watering. Going north in central Spain, the light red soil 

 with a porous tendency to carry off the frequent rains, is preferred, 

 and the white is altogether condemned. Still further north, the 

 dark red and very porous soils are exclusively used. The cal- 

 careous soils, through their action on the natural and artificial fer- 

 tilizers, quickly put into, circulation the elements of nutrition of the 



