Olive Picking In California

J.11W Ulive umutuij lljjpua lunuyciuirei. [d gome loealities in Eastern countries iuring favorable years the fruit picking for oil begins as carly as October, amí for picking in September. In Santa Barbara the erop of 1850, as also that jf 1878, was unusually late in ripening, aot being ready to piek before tíie middle o? January - a delay of nearly two months - the cause no doubt owing :o the extraordinary rainfall of these Lwo years. In 1878 we had, after tho middle of February and up to the midlle of April, a rainfall of over four Inches, and in 1880 over eighteen inches, being more than our yearly average, l'he fruit should be gathered as apon ís it turas purple, andbefore fully ripe, a.s the oil will be lighter in color and more fragrant. but somewhat less in uantity. In Europe the common method of gathering the berries isto knoek them f rom the trees with poles; they are then picked from the grouijíl by oíd men, women, children, and sripples. ïliia plan has serious obiections, the fruit being more or less bruised, causing decomposition, and the contact with the earth is liable to ive the oil an unpleasant taste and ador. The more economical plan of jathering is to piek from the trees by Band, and by tho aid of intelligent contrivances an active man can piek four hundred pounds each day. I have arranged on a ranch wagon, platforms with ladders socurely fastened, so that the fruit from different heights, of even large trees, can be gathered from tho wagon which is driven along the rows, and one half of the trees picked from eaoh aide. This plan obviates the necessity of moving ladders, climbing, etc., and relieves the pickers from the labor of carrying the fruit, as the sacks containing the same are alwaya at hand on the platform. Tho leaves and imperfect berries are separated by passing the whole through a winnowing mili. This process leaves the fruit in the best nossible condition orenaratorv to