# The Olive Its Culture in Theory and Practice

THE OLIVE
ITS CULTURE
IN THEORY AND PRACTICE
BY ARTHUR TAPPAN MARVIN
(OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.)
SAN FRANCISCO PAYOT, UPHAM & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS 1888
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by PAYOT, UPHAM & CO. In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
Press of Commercial Publishing Co. 34 California Street.
Introductory
| Quito Olive and Vine Farm, | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ |
| Santa Clara Co., Cal., July 30, 1888. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ |
Ellwood Cooper, Esq., Santa Barbara.
Dear Sir:—Will you kindly permit me to most respectfully dedicate to you, as the acknowledged Father of American Olive Culture in California, this little work?
I do so with no design of covering its defects or inaccuracies (and many such will doubtless be found) with the mantle of your name.
It is a contribution to the local literature on the subject, and must stand on its own merits, if any it has, and take its chance of criticism.
My attention was first attracted to the olive when my friend Mr. Edward E. Goodrich purchased the Quito Olive Farm in December 1882, and began its reform and development under your kind advice and suggestion.
​During his absence in Europe, covering a period of four years, I took a general direction of the place and my interest in the noble tree has ever increased, as my acquaintance with it grew more intimate, although I have no investment in orchard or nursery. My only object in issuing this treatise is to add my mite to the general fund of information on this most important subject.
After reading your pamphlet and your numerous contributions to the transient agricultural literature of the State, my acquaintance with the Spanish language led me to study the writers in that tongue, and besides some short articles in English (Californian and Australian) I have had the advantage, through the kindness of my friend in translating, of the valuable information contained in the monograph of Professor Caruso of Pisa, the work of Signor Guilio Cappi, and the Manual of Signor Raffaello Pecori of Florence, the leading olive nurseryman of Italy.
This last work is as yet unpublished, but Signor Pecori has been so kind as to furnish Mr. Goodrich with a copy of his manuscript and accord permission to make use of it in the preparation of this work.
Climate and race differences will doubtless lead our culture to vary widely from the European, but the experience of so many centuries will hardly fail to be of some value to the American olive farmer.
I give below the authors consulted, and should add that I have gained many valuable practical ideas from the late experienced and courteous foreman of the Quito Farm, Signor Ludovico Gaddi, a native of the Province of Lucca and one, as the Italians say, "born under the olive."
Let us hope that this tree may soon fill the important place in ​our California fruit culture which for so many centuries it has occupied in that of Asia, Europe and Africa. It seems probable today that this result will be attained, and it will be due to none so much as to yourself.
I am, dear sir,
Yours very respectfully,
ARTHUR TAPPAN MARVIN.
Monograph on the Olive, 1883, by G. Caruso, Prof. of Agriculture of the Royal University of Pisa.
Manual of Olive Culture, 1888, by Signor Raffaello Pecori, Nurseryman, Via dei Serragli, No. 64, Florence, Italy.
The Cultivation of the Olive, 1875, by Signor Guilio Cappi.
Treatise on the Olive in Spain and Mode of Improving it, 1870, by Sr. Don Jose de Hidalgo Tablada, Proprietor.
The Art of Cultivating the Olive, 1840, by Sr. Don Celedonio Rojo Payo Vincente.
The Olive, its Culture and Products, 1878, by William R. Boothby, Esq.
Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils, Artificial Butter and Lubricants, 1888, by William R. Brannt, Esq.
A Treatise on Olive Culture, 1882, by Ellwood Cooper, Esq.
Prima Arborum, a Treatise on Oil Making, 1887, by Messrs. Samuel Rae & Co.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
| Plate | I | . . . . . . | Page | 16 | Plate | IX | . . . . . . | Page | 80 |
| " | II | . . . . . . | " | 24 | " | X | . . . . . . | " | 88 |
| " | III | . . . . . . | " | 32 | " | XI | . . . . . . | " | 104 |
| " | IV | . . . . . . | " | 40 | " | XII | . . . . . . | " | 112 |
| " | V | . . . . . . | " | 48 | " | XIII | . . . . . . | " | 120 |
| " | VI | . . . . . . | " | 56 | " | XIV | . . . . . . | " | 128 |
| " | VII | . . . . . . | " | 64 | " | XV | . . . . . . | " | 136 |
| " | VIII | . . . . . . | " | 72 | " | XVI | . . . . . . | " | 144 |