CULTIVATION OF THE OLIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13487, 14 May 1907, Page 6

CULTIVATION OF THE OLIVE.

'.: SUGGESTED INDUSTRY FOR THE NORTH. ' , ;> [by telegraph,—own - cobbespondent.] '. "■" ' ■ .Wellington, Monday. , In his report on fruitgrowing and marketing in California, which has just been issued by the .biological arid horticultural division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. W. A. Boucher, the New Zealand Go-' vernment's pomologist, says that; in California the ; cultivation of the :■ olive has developed into an industry of considerable importance.; Both the oil and pickled olives are '.I Very .largely used) throughout California, in addition to which there is a large >export' of both products to the eastera 'States. : That pure olive oil is.medicinally, of great value is beyond question, and it is to be regretted that many brands labelled as the "pure" oil are marketed and sold as,such while being more or less adulterated with cotton seed or other oils. There should be an almost unlimited demand for the pure oil, with very profitable returns ;to i the . producer,. but the, constant unrestricted sale of mi adulterated-article' will always affect the merits of the pure ' article;; ; n " ; popular > opinion, •• and - : restrict the sale. He considers that the olive ~- is well worthy of careful; tests ;in • the northern districts of New Zealand, provided that we can ; secure a variety adapted 'to our climatic conditions. The production .of a pure oil and pickled olives ' should.. prove a profitable ' investment. In California the oil and the pickled olives; are to be. seen on almost every .table at every, meal. .