1 Ocr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 369 
When the wood left above the er 
ound is long, the soil is sometimes heaped 
round it in the form of a cone, to 
mitigate the drying influence of the air 
before the plant has rooted, a hole, which is kept open by a wisp of straw, 
being made on one side to facilitate watering in dry weather. 
The advantage of planting truncheons in’ the way described (in the 
position which the tree is to occupy permanently) is that’ you thereby save a 
whole year, and commence with a good stem to form the trunk of the future 
tree. i 
But [ need hardly say that there must be no 
these objects 
scamping of labour or 
slurring of the work, which, to effect with certainty, must be 
thoroughly and intelligently done. 
I come now to the second method of propagatine by truncheons. In this 
case they are cut from 1 foot to 8 fect lor 
r 1g, the short lengths being, I am dis- 
posed to think, preferable. Thev should be cut ne: 
] 
: : ¢ itly, without any bruises or 
ragged edges in which moisture could lodge and do mischief, and bedded 
horizontally (flat) 4 or 5 inches beneath the surface. ‘The soil for this purpose 
should be fine and kept moderately moist. ‘The erower must not be impatient 
if the shoots are long in making their appearance, as much depends on the 
season. In two years, however, you will have trees 4 to 6 feet high, with stems 
from 1 to 2 inches in diameter (according to kind), which are fit. for planting 
out, and from which you will be able to take strone scions for grafting your 
seeding plants. These, of course, you have been growing in the meanwhile, if 
you want any considerable stock of trees. Keeping carefully in mind the heat 
of our climate and the dryness of our spring, [T would recommend this method 
burying truncheons in preference to the other for beginners in this important 
industry. The other method, with some additional protection to the exposed 
stem from the trying influence of the air, May answer in Queensland as 
elsewhere. 
Propagation by Grafting—Grafting the olive is much practised, and is 
among the most certain methods of securing strong trees of approved varieties, 
The “Shield,” the “Cleft,” and “Cr 
my? 3 ; 
we : own grafts are all used and variously 
recommended, but it is immaterial which method j 
‘ } 8 adopted if the scion and 
stock suit each other in point of age and size. Underground oraftine in this 
climate is decidedly preferable, not more than two eyes to the Ratan nee left 
above ground. ‘The operation should be performed jn spring, when the sap is 
rising, the scions being of two-year-old wood. 
Propagation by Uovoli.—Vhis method of increasing good varieties of the 
olive is both curious and interesting. The word is Italian, and means, literally, 
“little eggs.” These are small knots or excrescences, which form, often in some 
numbers, on the bark, especially of the upper roots. They are easily detached 
with a sharp penknife, but care must be taken not to injure the tree. This 
should be at least ten years old, both because betore that’ age it is not worth 
while examining for wovoli, and because the tree should be mature, deep-rooted, 
and strong before such liberties are taken with the bark. When removed they 
are planted like bulbs; and, by much the same process of nature as in the case 
of the propagation of the vine und the potato by eyes, in due course become 
young trees. These wovoli are, in fact, embryo buds, or what are technically 
known as knaurs, the theory of which is that they 
I y have been adventitious buds, 
which, by pressure of the surrounding growth of bark, have been forced into 
woody excrescences. 
Oultivation.—The Ep OMEACe of thorough drainage for the olive has been 
already pointed out, and the intending cultivator, bearing this well in mind, will, 
of course, understand that the digging of holes is not to imply that the intervals 
are not to be left without breaking up. Where a depth of 4 feet is used, it 
would be impossible, without artificial drainage, to prevent the wet fr 
about the roots, unless the soil were naturally deep and very porous. It must 
be remembered that one of my objects in urging the cultivation of the 
that thereby the slopes of our hills, the soil of w 
yation, may be utilised. In these situations, 
om hanging 
he ¢ olive is 
hich is generally untit for culti- 
any considerable depth of soil will 
