Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-15
TINE OLIVE rRzz.
It's Importance to the stare- -valua-
BILE Information from Professor
Pohndorf

The HERALD has been foremost in adj
vocating the propagation of the olive
tree, tree that in the near future is to
be one Of the main supports Of the mil
lions Of people that will then thrcng the
Pacific shore. 1t is tree against which
the temperance fanatics cannot point
their finger as they point at the apple,
the peach and the vine. It's product is
mot used for cider, applejack. peach
brandy or wine, but affords an oil supe-
rior to lard or butter, and a fruit that is
an appetizer and tonic, nutritious and
q substitute for quinine and bacon.
In California history is now being
made, and industries Of the land are be-
ing established that shall be blessing
and support to future generations. The
foundations should be laid Of solid and
enduring nature. The olive Is tree
for the ages. 1t laughs at tempest,
deties a drouth, and is not troubled
BY moths or gophers, The centuries are
its friends, and it Hourishes through
score of them.
Knowing the value Of its products and
the permanence Of its life, the HERALD
has urged the people Of this young coin
monwealth to establish their industries
on the most permanent basis, and none
seems more permanent than an orchard
Of olives. In the education Of the pso-
pie concerning this valuable historic
tree, Prof. F. Pohndorf has done valu-
able and gratuitous service. In the last
number Of the Anaheim Gazette the Pro-
fessor publishes valuable communion
tion, from which we make the following
extracts:
Your county has for century proved
its adaptedness of many region to he
successful rearing Of one OF the most
important trees which in climates like
yours ought to be one of the foremost
objects Of farming, the olive tree. In
your own district, several years ago, Mr..
b. Dreyfus added round number Of
olive plants to the stock of his property,
and thereby set an example worthy to
initiate.
l also see that the press of your coun.
ty capital il prominently putting the
subject of olive culture before the pub
lie; discussions are going on about how
to do the work, what kind to elect, and,
in short. public attention Is maturing
into recognition OF the Significance of
that fruit, which is sure to Be one Of the
chief sources Of the wealth Of southern
California. You will be aware that there
is an awakening in the whole Of the
State to the fact that it would be unpar-
donable il the possibility of rendering
California an olive-oii-growing country
be not taken advantage of. Indifference
to the privilege Of growing olives has
been too long ruling, and the foremost
among California planters are now acting
to make good neglect which deserved
reproach. Valuable experience of men,
who like Mr.. Cooper. Of Santa Barbara,
and the Messrs. Kimball, Of San Diego,
communicate il freely, is at the COM
mand OF the planter. We have valu-
able variety in the Mission olive. Very
good oil from it is absolute proof Of suc-
cess. The chances of attaining success,
therefore, are abundant enough.
For the guidance of intending olive
rearers let me say few words here
about our Mission olive: Comparing
olives grown in five counties, although
an earlier degree of maturity distin-
guishes those of southern counties, the
fact seems patent that all belong to the
Cornezrelo Cornicabra family. and leaf.
shape Of fruit and seed show an exact
similarity to the Olea Europea Cerati-
carpa variety, as ii is called by Gle
mente, and Olea Adorata by Ros, while
in France it is named Luquoise or La
Luques, this latter appellstion indicat-
ing its origin or propagation from the
Italian olive region Of Lucca The OBJ
servations on the variety are: ut is
good oil fruit, and the oil is Of the bat
grown in Central Spain. The fruit
| natures late; the tree Is probably Of all
Of the genus olive that which requires
most degrees Of heat to ripea its fruit
| 1t resists cold. Requires good cultiva-
tioa and mannre, loose soil and ventila
ton. Young tross besr better than old
ones. It's bark contrlcfs warts and
nodosities, and il thersfors not clean
wood. 1t can resist drought. Deep
loosening Of soil is convenient for this
tree. which cannot bear amputations Of
large limbs. Pruning ought to be done
with care and discernment."
With the great advantages our Mission
olive possesses, therefore, the incon.
veniences Of it are also apparent. It re-
| quires most degrees Of heat Of all; 1t bears
. late maturing fruit. These two disad.
vantages are serious, for why should we
have only late maturing fruit, while
dozen or more early maturing ones from
Europe, MANY Of them superior in every
| other respect, are at our command! A
late maturer, having need Of continued
active flow Of sap from, say, the end Of
| March to the end Of DecemSsr, and even
to the end Of January, cannot be a. dur
twenty-five per cent. Of degrees Of heat
less, works only from March to the end
Of October or the beginning Of Novem-
Der, and Yields fner fruit for oil aud
| picking There are varieties bringing
forth olives Of treble the size Of the Cor.
nicahra, that requires less time and heat
for their product. We shall be in pos
session of collections Of the best early
varieties in few months, and gentle
men from southern counties are among
those for whose account they are COM
! ing. This reform is timely and we may
hope for fne results, where the propags-
ton Of thoss varieties, some twenty, will
take place for the benefit Of the whole
State.
| Only the Best.