The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-10-01


olive trees before planting in the
orchard and afterward has been sub
ject of considerable discussion. The
trimming of all the side branches and
cutting off the top before shipment
from the nursery, leaving the tree one
or two feet high, offers several substan-
tial advantages. By doing this no
stakes will be needed; the removal of
the foliage will diminish the loss in
transplanting; they can be packed in
closed boxes, which cannot be done if
the foliage is left on, as the trees
would heat and be injured; the freight
is less when in closed boxes, as it
weighs less, and as they can be more
securely packed in closed boxes, they
will arrive at destination in better con-
dition. Cutting off the trees to one on
two feet high before planting, does
not necessitate forming the head at that
height unless it is SO desired. Sprouts
from the roots should be destroyed as
soon as they appear, but all the side
growth on the stem should be left the
first year, as it causes the tree to be-
come stocky, and shields the stem
from the hot sun; afterward it may be
shortened in and taken off gradually
from year to year until the desired
height of trunk is attained, which
should be as short as possible, consist
ent with convenient tillage under the
tree. The trees should be trimmed
annually, and if this is done, a shears
and pruning knife will be all the tools
required. II done only every two or
more years large limbs will have to
be removed and much bearing wood
sacrificed, besides the limbs will be-
come long and bare, with no bearing
wood except at the ends, very unde-
sirable condition, the object aimed at
being low tree with open head and
bearing wood evenly distributed along
the long limbs as we'll as at the ends.
Happily the nature of the olive tree is
such that if a stub half inch long is
left where branch is cut from limb
new growth will soon start, from which
bearing wood may be secured. After
q little branch has borne twice, its
fruiting capacity its about exhausted,
and it should be removed. The an
nual pruning consists mainly in cut
ting back the top and side branches of
the current seasons growth, If needed,
cutting out the dead and enfeebled
branches which have borne one or more
crops, suppressing those strong and
upright unfruitful shoots which some
times appear, and taking care that the
tree docs not become so thick inside as
to prevent the free admission of the
rays of the sun. The olive naturally
becomes a tall tree in few years; it is
expensive to gather the fruit when
high, hence the Importance of a low
head so that all the fruit may be
gathered by the aid of q stepladder.
This may be accomplished by close
planting, say 20 feet apart, and by
persistently top pruning the trees.
1t should be remembered that the fruit
is borne ON the wood of the previous
seasons growth, and in the annual
shortening in plentiful supply of that
growth should be left to bear the CROP
of the ensuing season. No doubt the
best time for the annual pruning il
right after the January freezes are over
have reason to believe that the re
moval of large limbs in March or later
in the spring, is shock to the tree
lowering its vitality and rendering i
less capable of setting and holding its
fruit. Some summer pruning may b.
needed, especially in young orchards
in the way of heading back extra vigor
GUS limbs. The shortening in of tn,
new growth during the summer o
those extra strong growing varieties
like the Nevadillo, may be beneficial
in checking too rapid growth, thu
promoting the formation of fruit bud
and ensuring larger crop the ensuing
year. / regard the proper pruning o
the olive tree not difficult operation
but the neglect of it at the right tim
is. no doubt, one of the chief causes o
nproductiveness, when that occurs
The question, (Which is the best div
TO plant?" is often asked, but is no
easily answered. All the good quail
ties are not possessed by any one varie
ty that l am acquainted with, B,
planting number of varieties goo,
combination may be secured, beside
the benefit of cross-pollination
Again, individual opinion differs; 70
instance, pioneer grower informs m
that he has only the Mission, and i
satisfied with it. Another grower ha,
a Mission orchard, which he changes
to other varieties by grating. know
of an orhard of Redding Picholin
trees, whose owner has been so success
full in making oil and selling it tina
he does not want a change of variety
while many orchards of that variet
are being grated with other kinds
There are probably 100 varieties O
olives in propagation in the variou
nurseries of the State, comprising tn
choicest European sorts: Of these, tn
Mission, Nevadillo, Manzanillo. Col
umella, Rubra, Pendulina, Oblong
and Uvaria are best known and hav
been most largely planted. There ar
"a number of varieties which are begin
ming to attract a good deal of atten
ton, owing to the extremely high pei
centage of oil of excellent quality
which they contain, namely: Razzc
Correggiolo. Morajolo, Grossaio, Fran
toto, Marchiaio, and Palazzriolo. TIL
following varieties are noted on aC
count of their large size: Sevillanc
True Picholine, True RECALLS, Poly
morpha, Macrocarpa, Pleurre de Grass