OLIVE OIL. 



393 



it requires, and the otherwise barren situations which it renders pro- 

 ductive, quickly spread it over the western face of the Apennines. 

 According to Humboldt the olive is cultivated with success in every 

 part of the old world where the mean temperature of the year is 

 between 58° and 66° ; the temperature of the coldest month not being 

 under 42° ; nor that of summer below 71°. These conditions are 

 found in Spain, Portugal, the South of France, Italy, Turkey, and 

 Greece. The olive also flourishes on the north-west of Africa, but is not 

 found south of the Great Desert, except in parts of the Cape Colony, 

 where it has been introduced or grafted on indigenous species. 



In Europe it extends as far north as latitude 44^°, in America 

 scarcely to latitude 34° — so much greater is the severity of the winter 

 on that side of the Atlantic. In the neighbourhood of Quito, 

 situated under the equator, at a height of 8000 feet above the level 

 of the sea, where the temperature varies even less than in the island 

 climates of the temperate zone, the olive attains the magnitude of the 

 oak, yet never produces fruit. 



Olive oil may be said to form the cream and butter of those 

 countries in which it is pressed ; the tree has been cultivated in all 

 ages as the bounteous gift of heaven, and the emblem of peace and 

 plenty. There is a common saying in Italy that " if you want to 

 leave a lasting inheritance to your children's children, plant an 

 olive." 



In Italy the young olive bears fruit at two years old ; that is in 

 two years after it has been placed in the plantation. In six years it 

 begins to repay the expense of cultivation, if the ground is not other- 

 wise cropped. After that period the produce is the surest source of 

 wealth to the farmer. 



The exports of olive oil from the principal producing countries are 

 as follows, according to the latest returns : 



Spain, 1873 52,329,000 kilos. 



Italy, 1873 60,260,500 „ 



France, 1875 8,600,000 „ 



Greece, 1873 9,213,257 ocques. 



Tunis, 1873 , .. 3,472 tuns. 



We receive supplies from Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Austrian 

 territories, Greece, Turkey, Tripoli, and Tunis, Morocco and other 

 countries. 



Imports of olive oil into the United Kingdom : 



1840 

 1811 

 1842 

 1843 

 1844 

 1845 

 1846 

 1847 

 1848 

 1849 

 1850 

 1851 

 1852 



Tuns. 

 8,783 

 4,734 

 14,095 

 12,094 

 14,962 

 12,315 

 8,534 

 8,692 

 10,086 

 16,964 

 20,784 

 11,503 



1853 

 1854 

 1855 

 1856 

 1857 

 1858 

 1859 

 1860 

 1861 

 1862 

 1863 

 1864 



Tuns. 

 10,102 

 32,888 

 25,449 

 21,415 

 18,862 

 25,121 

 19,786 

 20,859 

 17,325 

 21,095 

 19,866 

 16,705 



1865 

 1866 

 1867 

 1868 

 1869 

 1870 

 1871 

 1872 

 1873 

 1874 

 1875 

 1876 



Tans. 

 32,005 

 23,690 

 19,993 

 17,585 

 28 ,.240 

 23,202 

 38,281 

 24,025 

 35,121 

 22,720 

 35,453 

 23,975 



