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CHAPTER III. 



SOIL. 



As the Olive will thrive, and be most prolific in dry, 

 calcareous, schistous, v sandy, or rocky situations, it is 

 obvious that, by its means, much land at present regarded 

 as valueless for agriculture, and comparatively so for 

 horticulture, may be utilised, under proper conditions of 

 climate, for the production of a staple of commerce, 

 certain in its annual return, and for which there is an 

 unfailing market. Let the free selector of Queensland, 

 who, by an error of judgment or want of experience, 

 finds himself possessed of land of this character, take 

 comfort. Not only can he get a certain return for his 

 labor ; but he is actually better off than his neighbor, 

 who, desirous of entering upon this industry, has nothing 

 but rich alluvial bottom lands for his plantation. The 

 Olive will undoubtedly flourish, even to luxuriance, in 

 such lands ; but the man whose possession has hitherto 

 been regarded as poor, and who has begun to get 

 accustomed to be pitied by his neighbors for having 

 made such an unfortunate selection, finds himself now 

 in command of the position. His Olive trees will bear 

 sooner and be more prolific than those grown in the rich 

 soil ; and should he have the additional good fortune 

 to have some limestone ridges, by all means let him 

 select these for his plantation ; and thus, in addition to 

 his other advantages he will be able to produce a finer 

 oil. 



In thus comparing the suitability of various soils 

 for the Olive, I must not be supposed to advocate 

 absolute poverty as a desirable qualification. There are 

 few examples of plant life for which a certain degree of 

 fertility is not necessary ; and in the case of the Olive, 

 if the soil is too poor it must be enriched artificially, 



