THE OLIVE ;)0 



shrub or small tree. It carries to completion a great number of ber- 

 ries. It is well worth using for grafting and counts various varie- 

 ties dependent on chmate and soil. 



COMPARISOXS. 



First — Form — (putting aside height). 



The Razzo and Grossajo are most similar to each other. 



The Leccino most like the wild tree. 



Second — Foi'm, size, fleshiness of berrv. 



The Razzo resembles the Morajolo. 



The Grossnjo '' " Leccino. 



The Mignolo " " Wild Olive. 



Third — Shape of olive and its appearance. 



The Trillo resembles the Puntarolo. 



coxcLisroxs. 



Olives are better described l)y the characteristics of the tree than 

 by tlie form or size of the fruit. Xotc how very much alike in this 

 respect are the Grossajo and the Leccino. Pendoulier and Yerdak\ 

 Cornicabra and Yerdejo and how far ai^art tliev rank in rusticitv. 

 Stature and oiliness. Looking at the f)rm of tlie nut we find that it 

 follows invariably that of the olive. Whence it a])pears not to be 

 true as has been heretofore believed, that the berries which are 

 roundish and enlaroed at the exti'cniitv varv in form from the nut 

 and are therefore more fleshy and oily than the pointed ones. 

 Greater fleshiness only can increase the oiliness of the fruit and 

 this is entirely independent of the shape it may assume. In truth 

 the richest in oil are the olives of Group I, or the oil i)ress olives, 

 which resemble in form the Morajolo, the Mignolo and even the 

 very wild olive, that is to say are joointed and not round. Hence 

 we are led to believe, 



First — That the greater the rusticity of the tree, the less the ram- 

 ification of the branches and the greater the persistency of the 

 berries. 



