OLIVE CULTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4162, 23 August 1881, Page 3

OLIVE CULTURE.

The Government arc now talcing steps, through the agency of Mr Federli, who for some time past has been resident in Christchurch, to introduce the olivo tree. As a matter of course the initiatory work must be of a purely experimental charactor, but several gentlemen who have given the matter caref rl consideration are strongly of opinion that the olivo culture may be made a successful undertaking in this part of the Colony. In a short time, the stock with which to make a' beginning will have been received from Sydney ; though at present there appears to bo no definite information as to the variety which is being obtained. One of the descriptive lists of olive trees in cultivation includes no fewer than 34 Spanish and French varieties, 15 of them being adapted for a colder climate than the remainder, owing to their earlier maturation. With regard to propagation, the olive is decidedly accommodating, for it may be multiplied from seeds/ cuttings, layere, suckers, truncheons (or estacas) and old stumps. For uso here, truncheons are being obtained. These are pieces of stem, which may be of any length and almost of any thickness, — the mode of treatment; being to place them horizontally in the ground, when, under anything like favourable circumstance, they speedily throw out roots ard suckers. Mr Federli has recommended the Government that the greater part of the consignment of olive truncheons should be entrusted to the Curator of the Public Gardens, who has kindly consented to take charge of them on one condition. At the present time the gardens are absolutely infested with hares and rabbits; and a stroll along some of the borders will furnish abundant evidence of the large amount of mischief that ii being done by them. The olives would be attacked greedily, and therefore it would be useless to attempt the proposed cultivation there under existing circumstances. Tliebalanceof the consignment Mr Federli purposes to send to Governor's Bay and Akaroa, provided he can make suitable arrangements, and secure a fair share of the resulting plants for general distribution. It may be of interest to add that the olive fruits best on a limestone formation, and that gypsum promotes the growth of the tree, the greatest desideratum, however, appearing to be an equable climate.