70 



edge, and then at once inserted in a slit of the bark of the old wood, one lip 

 of the slit coming to the side of graft, the other on its bark, so that it will all 

 bind over closely without vacuum in the connecting points of the sap vessels 

 of the two woods. 



For grafts I have used two-year-old wood, and worked towards the end 

 of July, which seems to suit in our climate. 



APPENDIX IV. (See page 38.) 



Extract from Dr. Thomsons " The Land and The Book." 



Labor of the Olive. 



This tree requires but little labor or care of any kind, and, if long 

 neglected, will revive again when the ground is dug or ploughed, and begin 

 afresh to yield as before. Vineyards forsaken die out almost immediately ; 

 and mulberry orchards neglected run rapidly to ruin ; but not so the Olive. 

 I saw the desolate hills of Jebel-ei-Alah, above Antioch, covered with these 

 groves, although no one had paid attention to them for half a century. If 

 the Olive bore every year, its value would be incalculable ; but, like 

 most other trees, it yields only every other year. Even with this deduction, 

 it is the most valuable species of property in the country. Large trees, in a 

 good season, will yield from ten to fifteen gallons of oil, and an acre of them 

 gives a crop worth at least one hundred dollars. .No wonder it is so highly 

 prized. 



Its Usefulness. 



The value of this tree is enhanced by the fact that its fruit is indispen- 

 sable for the comfort, and even existence of the mass of the community. 

 The Biblical references to this matter are not at all exaggerated. The berry, 

 pickled, forms the general relish to the farmers' dry bread. He goes forth 

 to his work in the field at early dawn, or sets out on a journey, with no other 

 provision than Olives wrapped up in a quantity of his paper-like loaves ; and 

 with this he is contented. Then almost every kind of dish is cooked in oil, 

 and without it the good wife is utterly confounded ; and when the oil fails, 

 the lamp in the dwelling of the poor expires. Moreover, the entire supply of 

 soap in this country is from the produce of the Olive. Habakkuk, therefore, 

 gives a very striking attestation of his faith in God when he says, <£ Although 

 " the labor of the Olive should fail, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in 

 " the God of my salvation." 



Gathering of the Olive. 

 Isaiah refers to the gathering of the Olive thus : " Yet gleaning grape 9 

 " shall be in it, as the shaking of an Olive tree ; two or three berries in the 

 " top of the uppermost boughs, four or five in the outermost fruitful branches 

 " thereof." Have you noticed the circumstances alluded to by the prophet ? 

 Very often ; and it is the language of familiar acquaintance with the subject. 

 As you may never have an opportunity to watch the process, I will describe 

 it as it occurs in such places as Hasbeiya, where I have studied it to best 

 advantage. Early in autumn the berries begin to drop of themselves, or are 

 shaken off by the wind. They are allowed to remain under the trees for 

 some time, guarded by the watchman of the town — a very familiar Biblical 

 character. Then a proclamation is made by the Governor that all who have 

 trees go out and pick what is fallen. Previous to this, not even the owners 



