THE OLIVE 



55 



and which had been used to protect the tree from rubbing against 

 the stake to which it was tied. 



The proper season to dress the olive, varies according to the cli- 

 mate, the soil, and yield of the plant. In a mild climate, however, 

 the dressing may be applied in autumn and winter, whilst in more 

 northern regions, it would be best oiyen after all danger of freezing 

 was past. The olive may be dressed in two ways — If the compost 

 be plentiful, and the trees near together, it should be applied by 

 scattering it about the orchard, and afterwards turning it under with 

 a spade, a hoe, or plough : or, it should be done by digging holes 

 about the tree, in a radius of from two and a half, to four and a half 

 or six feet, according to the age and size of the tree. These holes 

 should be from twelve, to sixteen inches deep, and should be dug- 

 some weeks before the dressing is applied, in order that the soil 

 about the roots may be fully aired. 



In localities where compost is scarce, it is well to alternate fertiliz- 

 ation by plowing under lupins, beans or other vegetable matter of 

 easy growth. If the dressing of the soil is done biennially, one 

 half of the ground could be plowed under as stated. It' triennial- 

 ly. the plowing under could follow, and a third of the plantation be 

 plainly worked. If quadrennially, the surface should be divided 

 in four sections, of which the first should be manured, the second 

 worked, the third plowed under, and the fourth worked. 



The nature of the fertilization that is necessary, cannot be exactly 

 determined by the ashes of the wood alone, as the proportions of 

 these may vary from a multiplicity of circumstances. The surest 

 test for the fertilization, is the knowledge of the loss to which the 

 tree has been subjected in fruit, leaves, and wood : and the object 

 should be to restore to the soil that which has been taken from it in 

 producing these. No manure should be applied till it is thoroughly 

 fermented. To throw ttnfermented, or indeed any manure, close up 

 against the trunk of the tree, is to do harm instead of good. With 

 the rain fermentation starts again, and the heat generated is prejtt- 



