THE OLIVE 19 



The olive grower of Galifoniia has sixty-five millions of country- 

 men among Avhom to market his product. Now if we assume that 

 the consumption may reach only one pound per head annually, it 

 would require ten million gallons to satisfy the demand for the 

 United States alone, or, with an acreao;e of fiftv trees, olive o'roves 

 covering two hundred thousand acres. Our people have yet to 

 learn to appreciate the olive. It needs no pushing, it will make its 

 way on its merits. It is sufficient to say that the public were wil- 

 ling to pay during all last season fifteen dollars a gallon for an 

 oil they knew to be pure. But increased production will loAver 

 the price, and a lower price will stinuilate the consumption. 



Olive oil has alwavs been 2:reatlv esteemed for the beneficial 

 effects derived from its use b\' the human body. This reputation 

 is sustained by the experience of mankind from the beginning of 

 historv. Of late vears it has been discovered that it contains chol- 

 esterin, which was onlv known to exist in the animal bodv, where 

 it forms an important constituent of the gall, the blood corpuscles, 

 and the nerve substance. ' 



