El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-05
% ma Experiment Station

cation Of worthy seedlings has been
carried farther than with almost any
other fruit trees. It is no doubt due TO
this that a much larger percent Of olive
seedlings viii prove worthless than with
dates. oranges or peaches.
Desirable varieties are therefore propa-
gated by layering, by grating or bud
ding upon seeding stocks, or by root
ing cuttings There are two principal
methods of propagation by cuttings, viz:
the soft Tip cutting and the large hard
wood cutting. Nurserymen who have
lath houses, and are thus provided with
the means of controlling the conditions
Of light and moisture, prefer TO use the
soft tip cuttings They may be grown
in much smaller space and their root
systems are much better. For these the
tips Of the growing shoots are cut about
four inches long. being taken from the
trees at the time when the wood is
passing the herbaceous stage and grow
ing hard and firm. They are cut just be-
low node and the two pairs of lower
leaves removed. They are rooted in par
tial shade in boxes or beds of fine sand,
which is kept constantly moist. After the
roots are we'll started, they may be
transplanted into beds Of rich soil or
into pots II well grown, they may be
planted in orchard form when one year
old
For the ordinary. fruit grower who
wishes TO produce his own trees from
some old tree of well known variety and
bearing habits, the large cutting sys-
tenn is probably the best. Cuttings are
made in January from branches one to
two inches in diameter. The twigs are
removed and the cuttings made about Is
inches long. They are tied into bundles
and buried one foot deep in a horizontal
position, in moist but well drained soil.
In March they 70 xaT nd In
nursery rows u inches apart in the row
and u inches deep, usually at an angle
Of As degrees. The loose dry soil is
drawn over the tops of the cuttings
forming ridge. thus affording protec-
ton from the sun. If the middles are
kept well irrigated for few months.
shoots will start from the sides and push
up through the dry soil. All of these
shoots are allowed to grow for the first
year, after which the strongest one is
selected and staked, the balance being
cut away. BY the end of the second
year strong trees will be available for
orchard planting
Planting.
In the region under discussion. olive
trees do best if planted between March
10 and April 90. They should be rather
severely headed back when planted. and
great care must be taken 10 avoid ex-
posing the roots 10 the sun and the
wind. The actual setting Of the tree
differs little from that of any other
fruit tree If all has been properly done.
the new growth viii begin TO push out
very soon after the trees are planted.
Perhaps the best distance for plant
ing is 25 feet each way Some varieties
of olive trees if left alone will eventual
" crowd at this distance, but on ac-
count of the difficulty in gathering the
fruit it is wise 10 keep them pruned low
and in such shape that % feet will not
be too close
In certain localities some varieties !
the Mission, seem 20 be self !
sterile when planted in isolated blocks |
1t is therefore desirable to plant rows |
of different varieties together in the /
same orchard in order to insure cross !
pollination. and consequently larger and /
more regular crops.
Pruning.
Young olive trees should be headed /
back while in the nursery rows. the !
largest branches being cut back to two |
or three inches in length. In this con-
dition they are planted out in orchard /
form, no further pruning being done |
during the first year. It Is said to be |
very important to refrain from pruning !
or suckering during the first seasons /
growth. as the proper development of !
the olive root system depends upon a /
large number of leaves. The shaping of !
the tree should be begun during the /
dormant period at the end of the first |
seasons growth. this time all suckers |
are removed, Maynard branches cut
back, and the top headed at about three /
or four feet from the ground Some /
growers prefer a tree with several !
trunks rising from the ground but the
single trunk tree is more desirable.
In all subsequent pruning Il should /
be borne in mind that. the olive bears
on wood Of the previous years growth. !
New twig formation should be encour- :
aged throughout the body of the tree ard /
along the larger limbs, but such growth |
should be kept thinned out and not al /
lowed to become too dense and brush /
ike, as too much shade hinders fruit |
production. Many varieties, such as
Razza and Correggiola, tend to produce |
very heavy crops Of small olives in al
-ernate years. This tendency should be /
as far as possible by light an |
lual pruning and thinning Of the too
hick twig growth. Olive trees should j
De kept sufficiently Tow for all the |