60 



THE OLIVE 



A tree grown from seed, has a long tap root, and a very straight 

 smooth stem, which shows the vigor of the plant; while a tree raised 

 in any other way has not these advantages. Its pivot root gives 

 it a force that other trees do not possess. It is more productive, 

 will resist diseases better, and is a hardier tree than one raised from a 

 cutting. 



When the ground is loosened by rain, and the tree is loaded with 

 fruit, a heavy wind sometimes overturns the olive, this could not 

 happen to a tree from seed, its tap root takes too firm a hold. This 

 accident occurred on the Quito Farm in the winter of 1886, and the 

 trees which were so unfortunate had to be replanted and cut back 

 to the crotch being lost to the place as fruit bearers for the 

 next four years. 



Again the time lost in raising from seed is more apparent than 

 real, for, after the early years of its life, the advantages are wholly in 

 favor of the tree raised from seed. The weight of opinion, derived 

 from an experience of centuries, favors this method. 



In 1882, the Congress of the Italian Agriculturists, meeting at 

 Bari, arrived at the following conclusion : — That persons be recom- 

 mended to raise their olive trees from seed, in preference to any 

 other method. 



If proof were needed that the olive will grow from seed in Cali- 

 fornia, we have it in the fact that various parties have successfully 

 raised the Mission olive in this way. Whatever seed may be sown y 

 the resulting plant will be the wild type, and should be grafted, in 

 the nursery, when from two to three years old. 



By actual count on the Quito Farm, one hundred Mission olive 

 pits gave fifty well developed germs. 



To hasten germination the seeds should be stripped and soaked 

 in lye for two or three days, then dried and placed in a dry spot, 

 or disposed in layers in a box with dry sand, being well covered 

 with earth to keep out water. When the time comes for sowings 

 sow the seeds without detaching the sand that clings to them. 



