370 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1899. 
not often be found, and 24 inches will, as a rule, be found the maximum depth 
attainable. If this be the case, holes will have no advantage in point of econom 
over continuous trenching, say, to the width of 8 to 10 fect. While such 
trenches will afford sufficient room for the health of the trees, these will still 
benefit by the breaking up, at some subsequent period, of the intervening 
spaces either by the hoe or plough. ; 
Cultivation between the trees should be practised with great caution. 
When the trees are quite young, and cover little space, a shallow rooting crop 
may with safety be taken off, provided that even then the seed is not allowed to 
fall within 5 feet each way of the trees. If this be done fora year or two with 
safety, it is as much as can be ventured. 
Manuring with suitable fertilisers, at intervals, forms an important element 
in the successful cultivation of the olive, especially in soils naturally poor. While 
the tree rejoices in the mechanical looseness of sandy, gravelly, and stony soils, 
and in freedom from stagnant moisture, the olive is not among the very small 
number of fruit-bearing trees which are most fruitful in sterile soil. e 
Nutriment is necessary to its productiveness, and, if not already in the soil, 
must be introduced artificially. The stronger kinds of manure are recommended 
for the olive—such as pigeon and sheep dung; but the best of all for sandy soils 
is nightsoil. 
Raw, unripened, hot manures are as bad for this tree as they are for most 
others. ‘There is nothing to equal a good old compost heap. The heap should 
be occasionally turned until thoroughly incorporated, and when mature, which 
will probably not be for 12 months, may be with great advantage applied to the 
trees, being well turned in under the surface. 
An addition of lime to the compost heap, or its separate application, will 
soon make its effects visible in the healthy appearance and more vigorous growth 
of the trees. 
Where the soil is absolutely poor, the trees should be manured every year, 
but otherwise every second year will be sufficient. 
Mulching the trees will be found a useful adjunct to the cultivation of 
the olive in our hot, dry climate. 
Pruning judiciously is of great importance, as the olive has the character 
of bearing only every other year. ‘The fruit is produced on the young shoots of 
the preceding year, and, in pruning, the object to attain is to secure a regular 
distribution of wood of the previous year from the axils of the leaves. In poor 
soil, pruning is especially necessary, and I am disposed to think that, in our 
genial climate, plantations, skilfully managed, ought to bear, with fair certainty, 
a regular annual crop. Under the present system of cultivating comparatively 
dwarf trees, abundant crops are afforded in three or four years. A clear, straight 
stem of 5 or 6 feet should be kept. Not only is the growth thus made handsome, 
but the tree is more vigorous and strong to resist wind, and the fruit is 
sufficiently remote from reflected heat and consequent premature ripening. 
The distance apart for planting the trees must be determined partly by 
variety and partly by soil and aspect. 
Owing to the adoption of a system of pruning the trees to such limits as 
will render the gathering of the fruit by hand comparatively easy, cultivators have 
been enabled to bring their trees closer together. Orchards are now planted at 
distances from 16 feet up to a maximum of 30 feet, according to variety. 
The following tables will show the number of trees which can he grown per 
acre at 16, 20, 30, and 40 feet apart respectively :— 
1.—Aere, of shape 220 feet long by 198 fret wide. 
Deducting dray road (12 feet wide), we have— 
Area to be planted = 174 feet wide by 196 feet long, which will admit of— 
10 rows, with 11 trees in each row, 16 feet apart. | 
> 
8 ” ” 9 ” 20 ” 
5 or) ” 6 ” 30 ” 
40 
4 
” ” the ” 
the fractional parts of the space being adjacent in each case to the dray road. 
