39 



the roots of the plant, for it would then be of injury rather than of benefit 

 as food. The quantity of fertilizer used is according to its quality and the 

 size of the plant. In steep soil the fertilizer is invariably applied only on 

 the upper side, for the filtration of winter rains will provide for the lower 

 part of the ground. 



Plants not propagated by the seed method develop their root-system in a 

 horizontal direction and toward the surface of the soil. This is the cause 

 of their inferiority and also the cause of rendering slow and dangerous the 

 work of fertilizing them. The spade is the proper instrument to use. The 

 plow is most dangerous. The inventor of the plow and the discoverer of 

 America were certainly the greatest benefactors of mankind, and yet — in- 

 gratitude of man! — the memory of one is lost in the dim of ages and the 

 memory of the other is only revered by a few. Bat the plow should never 

 be applied around the roots of the olive, if success is desired. The noble 

 tree is very modest. It only requires of you to be kept free from its enemy, 

 the vegetation growing under its branches, robbing the roots of their food. 



Nearly all chemical fertilizers are injurious. When they are applied in 

 a concentrated state, they only serve the purpose of diseasing and killing 

 the olive. The best of all fertilizers is that which combines in itself all the 

 virtues of air and soil. The best results are obtained with manure of cows, 

 horses, mules, sheep, poultry, and the refuse of wool and of tanneries, and 

 from the product of the outhouse. 



Some producers have a very ingenious and efficacious way of fertilizing. 

 They put thirty or forty chickens in a large cage with a false bottom, leaving 

 the cage two or three days under a tree, then transferring it under another 

 tree, and so on. The manure is spaded in the soil as soon as possible, with 

 an excellent result in the olive crop. 



A family with a cow and a horse kept in the stable, in the course of the 

 year will have enough fertilizers for eight hundred trees. This, however, is 

 not as good as the chicken or sheep manure, particularly if not immedi- 

 ately used. Refuse of wool and of tanneries give surprising results, if mod- 

 erately used and applied well mixed with soil. But the king of fertilizers 

 is that of the outhouse. I am sorry to make mention of this at this time, 

 being a delicate subject to speak of, but the splendid purple mantle of 

 popes, kings, and emperors, which receives the homages of multitudes, and 

 the luscious satin which gives an angel-like aspect to your fortunate and 

 beautiful women, originated from a substance no less vile and revolting to 

 our senses. 



An ordinary family will produce enough during the year to fertilize seven 

 hundred large olive trees. The application is made most efficacious by 

 making holes eight or ten inches from the stump, in the bottom of which 

 straw is used for impeding the percolation, covering the holes as soon as 

 possible, in order to arrest evaporation. Trees thus treated soon distinguish 

 themselves from others for vigor and freshness, for abundance and fineness 

 of crop, for resistance to parasitic insects. 



PRUNING AND ANNUAL CROP. 



Pruning is the most difficult part of olive culture. It is from it that 

 depends a large annual crop, instead of a biennial one. It is from it that 

 mostly depends the health and general welfare of the plant. The pruner 

 is either the wise doctor or the quack of the family. It is a grave error to- 

 suppose that the olive produces in proportion to its branches or foliage. It 

 is the very reverse. It is equally erroneous to believe that an annual crop 

 cannot be had from the olive. It was so a long time ago, but not now r 



