Page:The Olive Its Culture in Theory and Practice.djvu/8

6 During his absence in Europe, covering a period of four years, I took a general direction of the place and my interest in the noble tree has ever increased, as my acquaintance with it grew more intimate, although I have no investment in orchard or nursery. My only object in issuing this treatise is to add my mite to the general fund of information on this most important subject.

After reading your pamphlet and your numerous contributions to the transient agricultural literature of the State, my acquaintance with the Spanish language led me to study the writers in that tongue, and besides some short articles in English (Californian and Australian) I have had the advantage, through the kindness of my friend in translating, of the valuable information contained in the monograph of Professor Caruso of Pisa, the work of Signor Guilio Cappi, and the Manual of Signor Raffaello Pecori of Florence, the leading olive nurseryman of Italy. This last work is as yet unpublished, but Signor Pecori has been so kind as to furnish Mr. Goodrich with a copy of his manuscript and accord permission to make use of it in the preparation of this work.

Climate and race differences will doubtless lead our culture to vary widely from the European, but the experience of so many centuries will hardly fail to be of some value to the American olive farmer.

I give below the authors consulted, and should add that I have gained many valuable practical ideas from the late experienced and courteous foreman of the Quito Farm, Signor Ludovico Gaddi, a native of the Province of Lucca and one, as the Italians say, "born under the olive."

Let us hope that this tree may soon fill the important place in