42 



In the form of picholines, the Olive is frequently 

 made the subject of adulteration, in order to maintain 

 for the fruit a vivid green color ; and thus, by making it 

 look nicer, to render it more marketable. Copper is the 

 medium used for this purpose ; and the French Olives 

 are the most extensively adulterated. In purchasing 

 Olives in bottle, select those of a fawn color, and take 

 care, in order to ensure this, that the bottle is of color- 

 less glass. The Spanish Olives are, as a rule, the most 

 free from contamination. 



I now come to the principal use of the Olive, viz., 

 the production of the Olive oils of commerce. These, of 

 various qualities, are used for various purposes ; the most 

 important being that of food and cookery. 



It is hardly necessary to say that the liner qualities 

 and those freest from rancidity, are most in requisition 

 for such purposes ; and, when pure, Olive oil is whole- 

 some and nutritious. 



In old Olive-growing countries, and especially in the 

 South of Europe, the oil is employed. for many of the 

 purposes of cream and butter ; so much so indeed, that 

 the inhabitants entertain an actual distaste for butter 

 as an article of food. In Spain, there is scarcely a dish 

 into which it does not enter as an ingredient; those 

 engaged in the industry almost living upon bread and 

 oil. In other Olive countries, it enters into almost every 

 ' kind of cooking ; while we know, from our own experi- 

 ence, that for cooking fish it is unequalled. 



In Queensland, thanks to our rich grasses, extensive 

 pasture grounds, and to the enterprise of colonists who 

 have stocked the country with well-bred cattle, we require 

 no substitute for butter, which is plentiful and .good ; 

 but the uses of Olive oil in cooking are so manifold, 

 that its production by ourselves could not fail to be 

 accompanied by increase of comfort and greater economy 

 of living. 



A great wool-producing country like Australia, 

 however, would find another very important use to which 

 to put Olive oil. I refer to its application in the manu- 



