Show OLIVE OF ANCIENT LINEAGE Trees 2000 Years Old Are Stilt Bearing Bear-ing Fruit Tho olive that the bartender drops into tho popular cocktail is an old campaigner Wine drinkers thousands of years ago liked It and for centuries no banquet has been considered complete com-plete without it The tree olea Europea is not only I one of the oldest trees known to naturalists natu-ralists but its longevity and productivity t produc-tivity are astounding Several of J these trees over twenty feet In clr cumferenco according to the scien a tific calculation of a foot for a century cen-tury must have been bearing fruit before be-fore the Savior walked and talked on the mount of Olives a The olive has been a symbol In more than one mythology Tho dove bringing the branch to the ark gave It to the Imagination of the Orient as an emblem of peace or confidence restored re-stored Among tho Greeks It was the sign of peace and the placid power of wisdom Though a native of Syria and possibly pos-sibly of southern Greece tho olive flourishes anywhere In n mild climate Western Asia southern Europe northern north-ern Africa southern England South America Mexico In all theso places the olive grows readily taking on an average seven years before bearing fruit Two hundred years ago it was introduced In-troduced into California by priests from Mexico and there it has thriven mightily In South Carolina It Is hardy and fruitful but unfortunately the crop matures there Just when all labor Is needed In the cotton fields Tho fruit is too bitter to eat unless pickled Ranging In size from an acorn to a large plum it Is gathered green and placed In n strong solution of potash or Ire of wood ashes When tho olives change color this denotes that tho potash has struck through the stone and they are placed in water wat-er renewed several times a day fort five dava New York Herald cwar |