52 
KOYAL HOliTlCULTURAL SOCIETY. 
much depends on the degree of maturity of the fruit. The riper 
the latter the better will be the oil it yields. 
Near Marseilles the Olives are gathered in October and Novcm- 
ber, while they are still unripe, and the oil is consequently of very 
inferior quality. This plan of anticipating the crop is adopted on 
account of the cold mistral, which spoils the Olives, sometimes 
completely freezing them and rendering them nearly worthless for 
oil. To make the trees thicker in foliage, and thus capable of 
affording a natural shelter to their fruits, the peasants prune the 
tops every year after the gathering. In this district of Italy com- 
paratively little pruning is needed, the trees on many properties 
being allowed to grow quite au naturel. 
About La Mortola and the adjoining district of Latte, as well 
as on all the lower slopes of the Eiviera, the Olives are frequently 
attacked in the month of July by an insect called moschmo, which 
lays its eggs in the berry. The caterpillar developes itself in 
August, finding its nourishment in the pulp of the fruit. Olives 
thus infested drop from the trees while not yet fully ripe — that is, 
in October, ^^ovember, and December. On the mountains at some 
distance from the sea, the Olives are scarcely at all affected by 
these insects; the fruits in consequence attain their perfect 
maturity, the crop being gathered between December and May. 
The oil yielded by such Olives is very clear and of superior flavour, 
and it commands a high price. In proof of this latter fact, I may 
remark that the value of the oil produced at Latte contrasted with 
that of the mountain village of San Michele at the head of the 
valley is ordinarily as three to four, sometimes even as two to three. 
XY. Eainfall at Mcdellin, 'New Grenada, South America. Lat . 
6^ 2' N., Longitude Id"" 49^ W. 
Communicated by Mr. Wilson W. Saunders, F.E.S. 
As Medellin is a locality from which many plants of horticul- 
tural interest have been introduced, the following brief record of 
its rainfall will not fail to be of some value as an indication of the 
character of the climate. While rain falls during every month of 
the year, the months from December to March appear to be the 
driest season. It is noticeable, however, that July and August had 
less than half the rainfall in 1 871 that they had in 1870. 
