TK^ OLIVE 123 



The black fungus is due solely to local causes. There is either 

 too much dampness or not enough light. The infected branches 

 should be cut off and burned and the tree sprayed with kerosene as 

 heretofore described. Xo olive tree on ground hio-h enoua'h for a 

 sufficiency of air and ventihition was ever afflicted with this pest. 

 The cultivation of the soil ])rovokes moisture and stimulates the 

 vegetable gj'owth of the tree, so where the black fungus appears, 

 cease this cultivation, do not stir up the soil, but on the contrarv 

 check the excessive orowth and humiditv, bv allowino; the surfoce 

 of the ground to harden. Prune the trees so that each may have a 

 maximum of light and air. If the excess of moisture cannot be 

 remedied by these means, the soil must be drained. 



VlSCr^I AL1U3I, MISTLETOE. 



The mistletoe is propagated from one ti'ee to another by its seed. 

 It extends its green roots through the branches from which it draws 

 its nourishment, greatly enfeebling the tree. The only method (^f 

 destroying it is, to cut off the l)]'anches on which it has effected a 

 lodgmeut, and burn them. 



LrCHEXS AXI) .AFOSSES. 



It is erroneously claimed by many writers that the mossv sub- 

 stance which grows upon the trunk and l)ranches of the olive and 

 other trees is a parasite. Instead it is composed of moss and lichens, 

 the i)rincipal ones of which are Parnielia, Lccanara, Verrucaria, etc.. 

 among the lichens, and Ilyt^sum, Leskea, ihwum and Orthotrichum 

 anion o- the mosses. 



Tliese last are cormus fungi, and all are e])iphytes and live on the 

 outside of the dead bark and exercise no parasitical influence. Thev 

 shield the bark from the sun, ))ut the humiditv thev enoender is a 

 frecpient cause of rot, and they also serve as nesting places for hurt- 

 ful insects. For these reasons it is well to liberate the trees from 

 them by scraping the infected parts, or s])raying with a solution 

 of lime. 



