49 



under ground. The intervals are filled with sand or 

 earth — experiments with stone having failed, the unequal 

 pressure resulting in breakage of some of these costly 

 jars. 



The mill, shewn in Illustration 6r, was from one 

 in use on a farm at Almunecar ; and, in the intervals 

 between the Olive seasons, was employed for grinding 

 white Indian corn into flour. 



The presses are extremely simple [see Illustrations 

 F.H). They are easily made, and strongly put together 

 of seasoned timber, are not liable to disrepair. Presses of 

 a more elaborate character (as shewn in Illustrations 

 NN 5 figures 1 and 2) are sometimes, but rarely used. 

 The construction of these is explained fully in the 

 Index to Illustrations. The small illustration I, shews 

 the form of implement used in Spain for skimming 

 off the oil and pouring it into the jars or reservoirs. 



The only appliance left to be described before pro- 

 ceeding to the details of the manufacture, is the kind of 

 bag used for enclosing the crushed Olives before putting 

 into the press. These are made of coarse linen, horse- 

 hair, open felt, rushes, or grass ; and, when filled, are 

 laid one over the other in the press, to the number some- 

 times of a dozen. 



But, while we quietly permit ourselves to smile, 

 with a good deal of self-complacence, at the dull and 

 easy-going peasant f Southern Europe, who receives 

 with veneration the traditionary methods of growing and 

 manufacturing the Olive, and will neither look for, or 

 expect to find, defects in a system which was " good 

 66 enough for his father," — are we quite sure that, with- 

 out being aware of it, we are not ourselves perpetrating 

 mistakes in our agricultural and horticultural operations ? 

 .Do we, whether masters or men, amateurs or experts, 

 enquire for ourselves into the rationale of various opera- 

 tions and methods ; or is it not rather the rule to accept 

 what we have been taught, or what we have read, with- 

 out much thought, or any further care than that it 



