92 



THE OLIVE 



by the stump of the branch is a source of clanger to the tree. The 

 larger this surface, the more difficult for the bark to close over it,, 

 and like injuries to the human body, unless the wound is thorough- 

 ly healed, it may cause the death of the patient. For this reason, 

 if the cut is made perpendicularly to the tree, it presents less sur- 

 face for the sun and rain to corrode, and for the fatal rot to take 

 hold of, and finally eat out the heart of the tree. The cut should 

 be made as cleanly as {possible, and some of the wood scooped out 

 in order to help nature cover it again with the bark. The whole 

 should be covered with grafting wax or a mixture of cow-dung and 

 clay. 



If the olive is pruned while the sap is rising, or still worse while 

 in flower, each branch lopped off is a mortal stab, a wound through 

 which the tree will loose its life blood. The sap will run heavily 

 for some days, especially if they are damp and rainy, no time being; 

 afforded nature to close the outlets made with the pruning knife. 



The tree will have lost, to no purpose, that which might have 

 nourished it, its vigor will be observed to diminish from that time 

 forth, and little by little it will dry up and die. 



Thus the very great importance of early pruning is inculcated, in 

 order to s;ive time for the closing of the cicatrices before the risimr 

 of the sap in March. 



Experience shows that an olive, although it may not have been 

 pruned in many years, and has not strength to put out new shoots,, 

 will flower and fructify every year. But in the majority of instances 

 the flower does not set, or if the fruit forms it soon falls off. All 

 this because the sap canals in the branches are obstructed, if not ob- 

 literated, and the tree cannot receive sufficient nourishment to main- 

 tain its produce. 



On the other hand, if a tree is obssrved to make wood heavily,, 

 and to grow barren and give no berries, it is a sign that it has been 

 over pruned. Such cases are rare, but when they occur the remedy 

 is to make the tree fast for a while, neither cultivate, nor fertilize 



