Page:The Olive Its Culture in Theory and Practice.djvu/103

Rh degrees Fahrenheit, without receiving any damage. One hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit proved injurious to the prospect of a crop on the Quito Farm in May, 1887, cutting down by two-thirds what promised to be an unusually large yield. It is the still, burning heat that does the harm. For this reason, rising ground or the middle hills are sought for the olive, where it may get the benefit of every passing breeze.

It is a sign of good fructification when the tree covers itself with blossoms to its very summit, as it proves its capacity to nourish flowers so far from the trunk. The flowers having fallen and the new berries formed, the olive orchard should be cultivated for the third time, and still again in the early part of September. The ground immediately about the trees should be dug over with the split spade or earth fork, taking care not to injure the lateral roots which lie near the surface.

Care should be taken in transplanting young trees to convey with them as much of their native earth as possible, some laceration of the delicate capillaries is unavoidable. A spade is the proper tool to use. If the tree is then kept for twenty, thirty, and even forty days in a dark place, it will be found to be exceedingly beneficial to it. The activity of the functions of the plant having been greatly diminished in the leaves, the root system is correspondingly stimulated, and will produce new shoots, which by their absorbing power, will contribute greatly to the vigor of the young plant. The breaking of the extreme ends of the roots, occasions no harm since the absorbent surface of the roots is confined to the parts provided with hairs, which are found in the middle of the young fibers. The exposure of the extreme ends or even cutting them, will not affect the freshness or vigor of the plant, but if the middle part be wounded, the injured fibers should be cut off immediately, in order that the sound part may not suffer by contact.