47 



is, as yet, very young, and must be protected. The production of olive oil 

 has not been large, and notwithstanding the fact that the producers of 

 pure California olive oil are but few (and their brands well known), there 

 are in this State over thirty brands purporting to have been produced in 

 this State, while the producers number less than a dozen. The injury is not 

 at our home market, but in the East, where people suppose, when they buy 

 these brands that they really get what the label bears "pure California 

 olive oil," only 50 cents a bottle; per gallon, $1. 



Appended hereto is a translation from the "Annals" of the National 

 School of Agriculture of Montpellier, France. The description therein 

 given of the varieties of olives in general cultivation there is the most reli- 

 able information obtainable, and as many of these varieties are now begin- 

 ning to fruit in this State, their qualities should be known. 



PlCHOLINE.* 



(Figure No. 1, Plate I.) 



Synonymes — Pichouline, Pecholine, Pijouline (Languedoc). Saurine, Rozier (Nimes). 

 Sausen, Saugen, Sauzin (Gard). Saurenque (Aix) Plant de Saurin, Saurine punchudo 

 (Marseille). Piquotte, Piquette (Beziers). Coiasse ou collasse, Reynaud. Lacques batarde 

 (quelques localities de l'Herault). Olivo lechin, Tablada. Pignola, Duhamel (Genes). 

 Olea ovalis, Clemente. Olea europaea saurina, Risso. Olea europaea oblonga, Gouan. 

 Olea frustu oblongo minore, Tournefort. Olea minor oblonga, Magnol. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Tree is of vigorous growth, but of average dimensions; its trunk is cylin- 

 drical; its bark is easily detached from the trunk in large, irregular layers; 

 its branches extend horizontally and are of slight build; the rejection of its 

 leaves are not numerous. 



Branches not very vigorous, short, strong, inserting themselves at right 

 angles; of a greenish, yellowish color; near the bark of a rugged nature 

 covered with numerous protuberances which are quite visible; wood cylin- 

 drical and flattened slightly; knots few in number. 



Leaves oval, lance shaped, very often enlarging themselves at the superior 

 part; of average length; average length five and a half to six and a half 

 centim. Width one and a quarter to one and a half centim. Top surface 

 of a dark green color; bottom surface approaching end of leaf rather thick 

 and of a soiled white color. Stem very thick, hard, breaking easily. 



Veins, very visible from bottom. 



Stem t short, very thick, very much curved toward the surface of the 

 upper side of leaf. 



Leaf Stalk, large, long, but little contorted. The leaf perceptibly flat, 

 the edges of which are not very much curled. The leaves accumulating in 

 great numbers on the young branches, covering them thickly. 



Fruits, generally accumulating in the direction of the branches of the 

 year (yearly branches), isolated or grouped by twos on the leaf; stalklet 

 very short. 



Fruit Stalk, very large, short, inserting themselves in a rather large de- 

 pression of the fruit. Stigmate persistent in an umbilic not very visible. 



Olive, a trifle below the average size, length two and one half to three 

 centim., width one to one and one fourth centim. Of elongated form, but 

 large near the fruit stalk, with a tendency of tapering itself towards the 



*A .variety believed to be tbe Picholine is fruiting in several parts of the State under 

 one of its synonymes of Oblonga. 



