RIPENING AND PICKLING OF CALIFORNIA OLIVES. 15 
slightly toward the end of the period in question, while the percent- 
age of solids in the flesh increases with a drop toward the end. Fig- 
ures 2 and 4, however, give a more truthful idea of the actual prog- 
ress of the growth of the olive. It is here seen that the actual weight 
of the pits, which were fully formed at the earliest date, remains 
practically constant. The 
weight of ash in the flesh 
rises very slightly, while 
that of nonoil solids is 
very nearly constant, or 
rises somewhat. The 
weight of the oil increases 
markedly in the fore part 
of the period and slightly -~#2 
near the end, the weight | 
of solids in the flesh fol- 
lowing closely the course 
of the oil. The weight of 
the flesh and the total 
weight increase greatly 
during ripening, with 
some fluctuations for one 
of the trees, and follow 
each other. 
Summarizing these ob- 
servations, during the 
ripening, after the pit is 
formed, the pits remain 
practically constant while 
the growth in the flesh con- 
tinues, and the only con- 
stituent of the flesh which 
imcreases noticeably, aside § = Q 
from water, is the oil. It Fig. 2.—Changes in weight of 100 Mission olives 
Alnre appears Phat ache occurring during ripening in 1915. 
amount of oil in the flesh must be the best index of maturity. The 
same general changes were observed for other trees and other varie- 
ties. As the season progressed the olives were found to increase in 
size, the percentage of pits to decrease, and the oil in the flesh to in- 
crease at first rapidly and then more slowly. The protein and ash 
figures were not significant. A number of minor abnormalities were 
apparent in the figures obtained. Sometimes the olives appeared to 
decrease more or less in size, and again the percentages of oil and 
om 
MWEVOA 7” LY) CYA? 
