Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-29
THE OLIvE-ITS SUCCESS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA.
The cultivation of the olive will ulti
mately be one of the greatest sources of
revenue in Southern California. The
experiments at the old missions first
showed the adaptability of our soil to
the growth OF this classical and scrip
tural fruit. The old mission grove at
San Diego was the most famous olive
orchard for years in California. 1t has
since been greatly eclipsed. Mr.. Ell
wood Cooper, of Santa Barbara, has
shown what considerable incomes may
be realized from the olive. His oil and
canned olives have attained great
reputation. 1t has remained for Los
Angeles county to demonstrate what
may be done with this tree in few
years. Pomona is a comparatively re-
cent settlement, and yet the olives
grown there are of unmatched richness
and flavor. Any one who will call at
the grocery store OF Mr.. H. Jevne, and
who will examine the Pomona olives to
be found there, will admit that they
have nosuperior on the footstool. Soaked
in two or three changes OF water, they
form an article of food at once sweet,
nutritious and delicious. The olive,
picked and passed through several
changes of water, to relieve it of its
salty picked flavor, is not only condi-
ment but a food. 1t is more than that
1t possesses ali the qualities of cod-liver
and castor oil, in modified shape, and
without any OF their repulsive charac-
teristics. A handful OF these olives, a
hunk of bread and glass of red wine,
make one of the most wholesome and
enjoyable meals any mortal can enjoy.
The oil itself is used in Europe for all
imaginable purposes, such as light and
heat, and, in the culinary line, for every
thing for which lard and butter can be
used in the United States and in the
colder countries OF Europe. The first
quality of olive oil is indescribably bet
ter than either lard or butter for all the
uses of the cook.
The success of the culture of the olive
at Pomona has been something quite out
OF the common. Handsome incomes are
being realized from groves that were, so
to speak, only planted the other day. AS
source of food this tree cannot be too
much commended. 1t will grow under
conditions in which any other tree would
die.
Then the longevity Of the olive is
something to keep in pious remem-
brance. 1t is said that on the Mount of
Olives today olive trees are growing that
were bearing when Christ was cruclfied.
1t is worth while to plant tree which
may be bearing when your descendant
of the sixtieth generation may desire to
have his fish fried in good olive oil. The
Rev. &. F. Loop was quite instrumental
in introducing the culture of the olive
at Pomona. His trees bore at an incred-
IDLY early age, and his example was a
stimulus to his neighbors.
The olive ought to be more generally
cultivated in Los Angeles county,
and only the best varieties should
be planted. The fruit ought to be raised
both for food and oil-the latter, OF
course, also food. Hitherto the oil has
only been used in the United States for
the dressing of salads and as a condi-
ment, the latter in the shape OF the exc
cradle queen olives, which are enough
to disgust any one with the very name.
The imports of the oil into the United
States amount to within fraction OF
half million dollars yearly. But this
is mere bagatelle as to the demand
that will arise for the products of the
tree. Oar people are comparatively un-
educated as to the uses of this most in
valuable of fruits. 1t is food, heat,
light and medicine, all in one, and its
years seem almost to be eternal Where
it is consumed largely in family, meat
and butter may be dispensed with, as
well as the medicine chest. The Ameri-
can people could be educated in de-
cade to consume yearly millions of dol
lars worth Of olive oil and olives.