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The ancients supposed the olive to be a maritime tree; 
but though it does thrive better near the sea than 
most others, it will flourish remarkably well at a distance 
from that element, provided the temperature be mild 
and balmy; for, like its companion, the vine, it is more 
affected by temperature than soil. It certainly prefers 
calcareous soil, but will grow on any kind. This dif¬ 
ference, however, marks its growth, according to the 
ground in which it is planted: in such as is rich and 
moist, it becomes a larger, handsomer tree; whilst in 
such as is poor and meagre, it produces the best fruit. 
This fact seems to illustrate the passage in Deut. xxxii. 
13.: — “ He made him to suck honey out of the rock, and 
oil out of the flinty rock.” 
It is a tree of tardy growth. To this Virgil alludes, 
when he speaks of 
“ The slow product of Minerva’s tree.” 
He also adverts to another property it possesses, — its 
power of resuscitation : — 
“ E’en stumps of olives, bar’d of leaves and dead, 
Revive, and oft redeem their wither’d head.” 
Its wood, which is of a reddish tint, is hard and close- 
grained, and lakes a fine polish; on which account it 
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