12 THE OLIVE 



Providential tree." He further savs that but for the olive a oreat 

 part of the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and its dependencies, 

 European, Asiatic and African, which are now covered Avith its 

 perennial verdure and form the source of the wealth of the people 

 of that region, would be sterile and desert. Few trees can conteud 

 with it for the title of primate, and Columella was well advised in 

 proclaiming it the best of his times. 



The olive is limited in its possible extension, but still the Italian 

 has alreadv looked forward with dread to its cultivation in Australia, 

 and now California seems likely to prove a formidable rival. 

 But liis fears would seem to be unfounded, as the only effect of 

 a suj^ply of pure olive oil in the United States from California, is 

 likely to be a greatly increased demand for the ^wx^ article, wheth- 

 er it comes from abroad or at home. 



The olive has advantages, however, over most other oil producing 

 trees, such as the walnut, sesame, peanut, linseed, raj^eseed, castor oil, 

 and poppy, which, as a rule, demand a rich soil and minute cai-e. 

 Consequently, where the olive prospers it is not worth while to cul- 

 tivate other trees or plants which produce oil. 



The ancients used oil for food, for light, and for anointing the 

 bodv. It o'rew to be a maxim in the latter davs of the Eoman Em- 

 pire that life was prolonged by oil without, and honey within. 



Modern uses are more numerous; for food, for light, for soa]\ in 

 dyeing, in perfumery, in pharmacies, in manufacture of cloths and 

 for machine oil, especially in cold countries. 



The economic future of olive culture seems most ])romising, since 

 its uses increase steadilv, while for food alone the demand is ever 

 greater than the supply, as is proved by the enormous amount of 

 adulterated oil openly sold in all the markets of the world. 



THE WOELD's PKODl CTIOX^ OF OLIA^E OIL. 



Italy comes first as an oil producing country as her exjiort is the 

 laro'cst. This kin«:dom has vielded in oil as follows, viz: 



