37 



PROPAGATION OF THE OLIVE. 



The olive is propagated by various methods: by seed, by shoots, by cut- 

 tings, and by woody balls formed in the bark of the upper roots of old trees. 

 The propagation by shoots is now the preferred, because they root easier, and 

 the plant grows quicker and more vigorous. As shoots are generally taken 

 at the base of the tree, grafting is necessary. There is no economy of time 

 between the cutting and shoot system. Trees propagated by balls are more 

 subject to disease, and, as a rule, they live much less. The cutting system is 

 rarely practiced in Italy. Propagation by seed is the favored method. It 

 is by far the best. The tree thus obtained has a perpendicular root, which 

 provides the life fluid to the trunk in dry soil and during droughts by its 

 depth. It grows more vigorous than by any other system; it better resists 

 storms and frosts; it is less subject to diseases and to insects; it produces 

 more fruit, and is longer-lived. It is the seed olive and no other that has 

 the virtue of rejuvenating in old age by the change of its bark whenever 

 powdered, unslaked lime is blown once or twice into the crevices. 



It is said that the seed system is too tedious and long. It is not so with 

 the successful method adopted in Italy. For the olive culturist who is not 

 willing to wait, there are excellent nurseries for his supply at cheap rates 

 for the value of the plant. For the patient orchardist the difference between 

 the seed and cutting, or shoot systems, is hardly perceptible, if future inter- 

 ests are considered. 



The seed is procured during the olive picking. The berries of a vigorous 

 growth — not too young nor too old — are chosen. All healthy trees have 

 plumpy kernels. It is a law of nature. The selected berries are deprived 

 of their pulp with the fingers. The pits are then washed in water and 

 ashes, and rinsed in pure water. In February, or whenever the seed is 

 to be planted, the pits are slightly cracked longitudinally, and put in well 

 prepared and sheltered ground, near the surface, with some straw on top. 

 The straw is kept moist. In forty or fifty days nearly all the seeds sprout. 

 The plants stand grafting at five years, if properly cared for, and bear fruit 

 two years after. It is thus seen that all other systems of propagation can 

 only claim the advantage of one or two years at most, while the seed plant 

 is vastly the superior. 



Italians say that the man who is not able to get an olive out of its seed 

 does not deserve to have a wife. 



The grafting is practiced during spring time. It is practiced in several 

 ways, all equally successful, as in other fruit trees. The main point to be 

 observed is that the plant should be already in a sapping condition, while 

 the scion should be in a dormant state. 



The wound is carefully bound with asphaltum, dissolved over a slow 

 heat with turpentine. 



The planting is done by making holes three feet deep and four feet wide. 

 The excavated soil is left exposed to the rays of the sun several months. 



Some fertilizer of good quality is put in the hole, and is covered with 

 soil. The plant is put in; after covering the roots with soil, more fertili- 

 zers are introduced, and the hole is filled in. 



Irrigation is always most dangerous to the olive. The plant is some- 

 times benefited by it, but the quality and fineness of the fruit never. 



Fifteen inches of rain, distributed in the course of the year, is enough 

 for the olive tree, particularly when it commences to fruit. 



