OLIVE

(Lat. olea.) A genus of trees belonging to the Diandria Monagynia cla of plants. The Olea Europaa has an upright stem, with numerous branches, grows to the height of twenty or thirty feet, and differs from most trees in yieldine a fixed oil from the pericarp instead of from the seed. The olive tree has in all ages been held in peculiar estimation; and some authors have styled it a " mine u[>on earth." It was sacred to Minerva. Olive wreaths were used by the Greeks and Romans to crown the brows of victors; and it is still universally regarded as emblematic of peace. The olive flourishes only in warm and comparatively dry parts of the world, as the south of France and Spain; in Italy, Syria, and the north of Africa; and though it has been raised in the open air in this country, its fruit did not ripen. The fruit is a smooth oval plum, about three quarters of an inch in length, and half an inch in diameter; of a deep violet colour when ripe; whitish and fleshy within; bitter and nauseous, but replete with a bland oil. Olives Intended for preservation are gathered before they are ripe. In pickling, the object is to remove and to preserve 1MB green by impregnating (hem with a brine of aromatized sea salt; and for this purpose various methods are employed. But it is chiefly for the sake of its oil that the olive tree is cultivated. Olive oil is p:ile yellow; its density is -910. When fresh, and of fine quality, it is almost tastele , having only a very slight ami agreeable nutty flavour. It is le apt than most other fixed oils to become viscid by exposure, and hence is preferred for greaatog clock and watch-work. It is hugely MBd as an article of food. It is the principal article of export from the kingdom of Naples. Of 2,791,057 gallons Imported in 1H;m». 3,034,237 were from Italy, 039.468 from Spain. 52,004 fmm Malta, 21.467 from Turkey, 11,300 from the Ionian Wanda, and about 30,000 (at second-hand) from Germany and the Netherlands. There is a duty of eight guineas a ton on olive oil. (See Diet, of Commerce, <$-e.) [s. 863]