People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — AN OLIVE PLANTATION. [ARTICLE]

AN OLIVE PLANTATION.

It Need* But Little Care to Bring Forth an Abundant Harvest. The finest plantations of olives are in the Nablus district of Palestine, but nearly every village has its larger or smaller grove. There is no doubt, Bays the Detroit Free Press, that the olive tree is one of the most valuable products of the country, and that it could be made a still greater source of revenue than it is at present. It requires but little attention and lives and yields fruit even when neglected. It only requires grafting and a little digging up and clearing out, and, this done, it yields a plentiful crop in return for the small amount of pains bestowed upon it. The fellaheen say that the vine is a sitt —a delicate town lady who requires a great deal of care and attention. The fig, on the contrary, it a fell aha—a strong country woman who can flourish without such tender care; but the olive tree is a bold bedawije, who, in spite of neglect and hardship, remains a strong and useful Arab wife.

The olives ripen towards the end of the summer; the trees are then beaten with long sticks, care being taken not to destroy the young leaves and shoots. The fruit is collected and spread out on the roofs or other convenient places, and then put into heaps for a little while in order that it might slightly ferment, after which it is taken to the oil press, where it is crushed under a heavy millstone and, packed in little straw baskets, is finally pressed. The oil (zayt) runs into a cemented cistern, from which it is drrawn in leather bottles or large earthen jars for carrying away. The fellah uses it both for light and nourishment. If he has nothing better he contents to eat some bread soaked in oil. It is also used a great deal in town cookery, but as a means of light it has been almost superseded by petroleum. Much inferior olive oil is exported to France and Italy. The jift, or refuse of the oil, is used for fuel, having grea/ properties of heat.

Recklessness.—Clara—“You certainly must have some courage, Charlie. lou were brave enough to propose to me when you had only known me three days.” Charlie—“lf I had known you longer, perhaps I should not have been.”