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CHAPTER V. 



CULTIVATION. 



In describing the methods adopted of propagating by 

 truncheons, I have of necessity somewhat anticipated the 

 subject, in some of its phases, of this chapter. The im- 

 portance of thorough drainage for the Olive has been 

 already pointed out; and the intending cultivator, bearing 

 this well in mind, will, of course, understand that the 

 digging of holes is not to imply that the intervals are to be 

 left without being broken up. Where a depth of four feet 

 is used, it would be impossible, without artificial drainage, 

 to prevent the wet from hanging about the roots of the 

 trees, unless the soil were naturally deep and very porous. 

 It must be remembered that one of my objects in urging 

 the cultivation of the Olive is, that thereby the slopes of 

 our hills, the soil of which is unsuited for general cultiva- 

 tion, may be utilised. In these situations any consider- 

 able depth of soil will not be found; and twenty-four 

 inches will, as a rule, be the maximum, depth attainable. 

 If this be the case, holes will have no advantage in point 

 of economy over continuous trenching, say to the width 

 of eight to ten feet; with the additional facilities for 

 drainage, afforded by the latter mode of preparing the 

 ground, thrown into the balance. While such trenches 

 will afford sufficient room for the health of the trees, 

 these will still benefit by the breaking up, at some sub- 

 sequent period, of the intervening spaces, either by the 

 hoe or plough. 



Cultivation between the trees should be practised 

 with caution. There is no mistake so great as to suppose 

 that you are exercising economy by taking out crops 

 from between the trees, unless you are quite certain that 

 the latter are not being robbed of light, air, or nutriment. 

 When the trees are quite young and cover little space, 



