Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-05-02
Olive Oil Industry of Italy.

Olive oil is classic product of
Italy, for which the peninsula has
been famous from the earliest times.
The tree with its silvery leaves EN-
bowers many of the picturesque
mountain sides in beauty 1t is con-
sidered indigenous to the soil of
Italy. 1t grows along the Genoese
Riviera. and southwark, the Riviera,
Tuscany and Bari forming the most
noted districts for Oil. More than
two-thirds of the groves are in the
south, especially on the Adriatic
slope of the Apprentices In Apulia
and Calabria. Tuscany and Gala
bria possess the mild climate and
proper soil and their olive-clad hills
have been made famous in song and
story. Along the northern lakes the
tree is ornamental purely. 1t per-
ishes at temperature OF 20 degrees.
Fahrenheit, says article by Guido
Rossati, received from the Italian
American News Bureau of Chicago.
In Italy the olive branch of peace
takes the place of palms on Palm
Sunday. The best quality of oil
comes from Tuscany where Lucca
has a worldwide reputation for the
superiority of it's product. In Colo
bria, too, the most favorable condi-
lions of soil. climate, and variety OF
olives are supplemented by the nee
essary care in cultivation, and proc
esses of manufacture which are es-
sential to the best results.
olives are grown for oil, although
some varieties like the Ascolana are
ideal for preserving. The Italians
are heavy consumers: and south OF
Genoa the oil takes the place of but
ter In value olive oil comes fifth
in the economic resources of the
country In 1916 olive trees covered
5.775 900 acres in Italy. One-fourth
of this was specialized, and four
fifths were devoted to promiscuous
cultivation, other crops being planted
beneath and around the trees. The
average yearly production has been
about 55,00O,000 gallons of oil, OF
which 100000 gallons were eX-
ported.
The yield for 1917 was valued at
almost $153,00O,0Oo, against $1,000
900 for the output in 1918, and the
crop would rank third in value most
likely If considered in relation to the
|
Italy alone. The price has increased
two and half times as result of
the war In the United States it has
risen from an average of $1.75 gal
lon to the Sc or 81 now asked.
| An olive grove averages about lao
trees to the acre. A fair yield is
about S5 gallons of oil to an acre.
which represented before the war an
income of over 800. against some
thing like 1910 at present.
The white cluster-like blossoms of
the olive tree appear in April or
May. The olives as they ripen
change from their characteristic
green, color to black purple, or
wine tint and become yielding to the
touch. This process develops from
November till February Like the
blossoming time it is a critical pc
Rod owing to danger from cold
weather. When the fruit is ripe the
groves appear at their best for the
black fruit sparkles among the white,
silvery foliage like bright human eyes
in pallid sockets.
Ripe olives contain from II to IA
per cent of. oil. To get the best re
suits in grinding they should be
picked by hand with great care, Poles
are often used, but the bruised olive
give poorer oil, The picking should
be done when the olives are not
over-ripe. At the oil mill the olives
should be stored for the briefest time
possible to await grinding. they
should be piled in thin layers, no
more than two inches deep, on tile
floors in well-ventilated rooms. Be