Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1884-10-30
OLIVES In SANTA BARBARA.
q God words for the MISSION


Mfr. W. A. Hayne, Jr., Of Santa Barbara'
sends an Interesting communication 10 the
Gan Francisco Merchant, concerning Mission
olive culture. His information seems to be
in harmony with the views Of the HERALD,
frequently expressed: but rs there are nu-
mernns readers Of this journal who have
recently come into the State 10 engage In
olive culture, "A publication Of Mr.. Haynes
Views will be- most Oppoftune. When wheat
Is selling at IS to g5 cents per GENITAL, many
grain farmer will regret that he did not
plant few acres Of unused brush-land a
few years ago with the hardy little cutting Of
the olive tree which showed Noah when II
was safe to wade ashore.
Mfr Hayne directs his attention mainly to
Il correction Of some views Of GustaYe Elsen.
Of Fresno. in n long communication. from
which the following copions extracts are
made:
Let me correct what Mr. Elsen writes about
the Mission olive. lie said that 1.-THE Mission
variety IL Of less value; that the first year
when transplanted IL generally loses all It's
leaves; that II grows very poorly from cut
tings: that II bears only when six or seven
years old that the first year after transplant
Ing II does not grow much or any Now,
my experience, which has been considera-
BILE, has been very Inherent from MI lnht MT.
Elsen tells us. In the first place. the Mission
has proved Itself here TO be very valuable
variety for making oil; when properly
picked. too, the fruit Is preferred by some
To- the Queen olive, as II Is more delicate ana
richer In flavor. The socllled Mission va
riety Is widely used In Europe Tor oil max
ing, We call II the Mission olive because Ii
was first introduced Into California by the
old Mission Fathers, and was planted by the
Spanish missionaries In San Diego In 1T69
Now, II seems TO me II this was poor va
riety IL IL strange that the wise old Fathers,
who knew all about olives. and who were
probably raised ON olive oil, should have
picked out a variety OF but little value and
brought IL all the way to California to plant
for oil purposes. | have seen THIS Mission
olive grow, thrive and bear rs full as the
tree could be and then made oil OF the most
delicate aud delicious flavor. with respect
tn It's not growing and losing It's leaves the
first year after transplanting can only say
that year and half ago planted out 1000
2layear old Mission olive trees, that only
lost about six, some OF these, too, were eaten
by g0phers. 1.-THE gophers had not troubled
them there would have been an almost per
feet stand The first year, In place OF losing
their leaves and not growing any, they threw
out growth OF new wood that surprised me.
The present new growth on many OF them
is now over three feet. Ny experience is
that the Mission variety grows well from
cuttings, MS | raised all Of mine from cut
tings | will admit, however, that In some
years the cuttings do better than IN others;
This, suppose, Is the case with all kinds of
cuttings. No one expects to raise every cut
| ting planted. doubt very much whether
the Mission variety differs from any other
kind In this respect. With reference to their
not bearing fruit until six or seven years OLD,
my experience again Is very different.
| have trees four years old from the cutting
| (cutting never having been remoyed) that
now have some fruit on them. Not, OF
| course II heavy crop, no one would expect
| tbtg lint gtili thay luVp fruit them.
| also know of other places where II paid "a
gather the fruit from lyear old trees; when
| 3 years old the crop paid quite well. The
same trees, when 9 years ga. Welded by
tree, or 20 gallons of iruit. The trees. OF
| course, increased in productiveness eact
subsequent year. This oil was sold for $
| per gallon.
II will thus be seen that my experience,
has been very different from Mr. Elsens.
| do not stand up for the Mission because
have planted 100 acres with that variety. BE
fore planting any trees carefully watched
It's growth and bearing qualities and the oi
made from the Mission olive, and then | sc
lected this variety. | can safely say alst
that for grating on my other variety of oil
| i've the Mission stock Is the best rs II grow
more vigorously and with less care thar
other varieties. am going To plant out
number Of the Mission in orchard form, and
then graft other varieties upon them, so a
TO have pickles Ms well ms oil.
| FROM my experience anu ulSb Irbin Wltl
have read, | would never plant an olive or
chard In rich, nlluvial land that /
not naturally well drained. Its en-
envy Is excess of moisture. 1t seem
to thrive best in loose, sandy or gray
ely land. Tho tree will grow wei
aud thrive in billy land. but the expense o
cultivnting large orchard on hill-sides |
much greater, and the gathering OF the lrui
isa slow and expensive Job
What Virgil wrote more than 1900 year
ago is still true. After describing the con
tlnnous culture necessary for the vine, b
adds: "On the other hand the olives rrquir
| no culture, nor do they expect the crooked
pruning hook ana tenacious harrow whei
once they are rooted In the ground and hay
stood the blasts. Earth herself supplies tn
| plants with moisture when opened by tn
hooked tooth of the drag, and weighty fruit
when opened by the share. Nature for thy
self, with this, the fat and peacedelightin
olive"
Now In II measure agree with Virgil. Il
my certain knowledge the olive will groN
aud practically thrive with less care tha
any other fruit tree; but on the other ham
only give It thorough care and watching
thorough cultivation, careful pruning, an
In fact AS much attention MS you can, an
then see the difference between those cult
waited after Virgil's style and those after tn
way suggest.
will here add that am firm believer il
| Inc owe. III Is IN unucNelopeu enterprise
1t has wider field before It than any othe
fruit; Il has been but little tested as yet
there are but few places that 1t will do wei
In, so that there Is no danger of It's bein
over done. Cultivation of the olive In tn
Atlantic States has been II, failure. CallfoI
MIA Is the home of the olive and our marke
Is unlimited. A few years ago san Francis
co alone imported 5000 gallons OF oil, an
paid 81 duty on each gallon. There are mi
lions OF gallons imported each year into tn
United States Why should we import n
adulterated article when we Gun produce
pure one here"