The herald., 1893-01-29
NEWS NOTES ABOUT RANCHES.
Typical Facts About Southern
California Farms.
Information About the Culture of
the Olive.
Poor Oranges More About Lemons-Fer-
tiiizers In Orange Groves The
Culture of this English
walnut, Etc.

In answer to an inquiry, Mr.. Kenneth
Mcclellan, superintendent of the United
States agricultural experimental station
at Chico, Cal, furnishes the following
information in regard to growing olives /:
In selecting the varieties to plant,
preference should be given those varie-
ties which ripen early, as in localities
subject to early frosts, this will enable
the picking of the fruit before the cold
weather begins. There are over 30 va
rieties OF olives propsgated in this
state, most of which are new
here, and have not been grown for a
sufficient length of time to teet their
adaptability to cur soil and climate J;
1t is, therefore, difficult matter to
tell which variety or varieties will be
the best for general planting in the
future. About year ago analyses were
made by prominent chemist Uf IL va
rieties of olives taken from the same
places in each of the three counties of
Fresno. Santa Clara and Alameda, and
in each instance the Nevadillo Blanco
proved to be the superior both in quail
ity and quantity of oil as we'll as in
fruitage. The Nevadillo Blanco is a
sure variety to plant for oil, as it
ia good bearer, a strong and vigorous
grower, gives an abundance of eu-
perior oil, and is adapted to a
greater number OF locations and char
acters of soil than any of the other va
rieties tested. At the sans time and
by the eams test, the Manzanillo variety
was found to be the best for picking,
This variety is free stone, of large
size and fine flavor, a heavy bearer, and
gives promise of making very good oil.
These analyses ALSO developed the fact
that olives grown in irrigated dis
tricts contain more water and
less oil. and are inferior in quail
ity to. the came varieties grown
without irrigation. The Mission, Rubra
and Pendulina follow in the order named
as the next best varieties.
The best soil for growing olives is
sandy loan, well inland, and at an alti
tude of from 400 to 1000 feet. The nearer
the coast the olive is planted the more
subject it is to the black scale (Lacanium
Alea); the farther inland the olive is
grown, the better it is for the trees in
t his respect.
Young olive trees should be planted,
If possible, on cloudy days. and great
care should be taken not to expose the
roots to the sun or winds. The trees
should be carried in wet sacks and
planted as soon as the holes are ready
Tor them. 1t is best to irrigate the
young trees the frat summer, and three
irrigations will be sufficient. After tine
olive tree is well established In the
ground, irrigation is unnecessary.
The heads of the trees should be
trimmed up with great care, and with
a view to keeping straight the center
stem, but too many branches should not
be trimmed at one time, as this will
retard the growth of the tree. A few
branches should be trimmed every year
until the tree has reached the desired
height, and all branches having a ten
dency to fork out and be as strong as
the main stem, should be cut out en-
tirely.
An olive orchard should always be
plowed and put in order before the
ground commences to dry up in the
spring, "a by 30 doing the ground will
retain the moisture during the Gum
mer. After this, all that will be re-
quired is light cultivation, to the
depth of about three inches, to keep
down the weeds.