Nounga and two fatty substances are said to be produced by a species of Bassia, which has been called B. gabonensis, found on the Gaboon. The former has the consistence of butter ; the latter is available only for soap-making. Their united yield is 56 per cent.
or (FR., Beurre de lifuscade ; GER., Muskatbutter, Muskatnussdl).
The fixed or fatty oil obtained from the nutmeg (see Spices—Mace and Nutmeg), must not he con founded with the essential oil, which is described in another section (see p. 1424). The fixed oil or butter is extracted from refuse nuts, by powdering, heating in a water-bath, and pressing while still hot. The yield is about 28 per cent. The fat is a solid unctuous substance, with an orange brown colour of varying intensity, and presenting a mottled appearance ; it has a pleasant odour, and fatty, aromatic flavour ; its sp. gr. is 1.010-1.018; it melts at 45° (113° F.); and dissolves perfectly in 2 parts of warm ether, or 4 of warm alcohol at sp. gr. It contains a large proportion of myristine, among other glycerides, and about 6 per cent. of the essential oil before mentioued. We import the article chiefly from Singapore, in oblong blocks measuring about 10 in. by 2} in. sq., wrapped in palm-leaves.
ochoco tree of Guinea (Dryobalanops sp.) yields 61 per cent. of an oil fusible at 70° (158° F.).
or the seeds of Sarcostigma A7einii, a native of S. India, a thick, oil is expressed ; it is burnt in lamps, and has a high medicinal reputation.
seeds of more than one species of Hibiscus (principally H. esculentus), plants which have more importance as flbre-yielders (see Fibrous Substances, pp. 961-2), afford clear, limpid oils, which are said to rival olive-oil for alimentary purposes, but are nowhere extracted on a commercial scale.
(FR., Hulk d'Olives ; GER., Olivenol, BaumJl, Provencer Oel) and the oommon olive (Olea europfea), some 20-30 varieties are distinguished by different botanists as the result of prolonged cultivation. The most useful and esteemed of these are the following :— (1) caillet or capon, preferred in the neighbourhoods of Grasse and Cannes, growing best in strong soils, needing air and sun to fructify its flowers, and not yielding all its oil until quite black ; (2) blanquette, chiefly grown about Antibes, thriving best on dry ground, having little colour when ripe, and affording a sweeter, whiter and more delicate [but ill-keeping] oil than (1); (3) roubeirou, grow ing tall and with few branches, bearing a small fruit that gives little oil, but superior to all others ; (4) plant d'Entrecasteaux, of rapid growth, adapted for almost all soils, but especially strong, requiring little manure, an abundant cropper and ripening early, hut demanding a situation sheltered from oold, and frequent pruning ; (5) cornet, succeeding under all exposures, and furnish ing an abundance of excellent oil ; (6) caillet-roux, flourishing in low bottoms, and a plentiful yielder of good oil; (7) redounaou, hardy, and lees esteemed for its oil than for preserving ; (8) arabon, very productive of good oil ; (9-12) verdalc, colliasse, clermontais, and gros eornialle, very fruitful, while attaining only small dimensions, facilitating the harvesting of the fruit, and per mitting planting at 16 ft. apart ; the verdale is specially recommended as bearing in the 3rd year.
The great eeat of the cultivation of this species is in the countries bordering the Mediterranean, whence it has been introduced into America, Australia, and other localities possessing a suitable climate. Other species of Olea are found inhabiting the Hirmilayan portion of India, Afghanistan, the Malay Peninsula, Burma, Cochin China, the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, and Florida. Nevertheless, 0. europoea seems to be the only species which is an object of systematic cultivation, and it is exclusively to it that attention is directed in the following remarks.
Soil, Climate, and Situation.—The olive thrives and is most prolific in dry, calcareous, echistous, sandy, and rocky ground, and may thus he grown on land which is worthless for many other crops. It is commonly said that good vine-soil is good olive-soil. The soil must be loose and permeable, and the deeper the better. Clays and bottom lands, even when well drained, are generally unsuit able. Efficient drainage is an essential in all cases ; at the same time, a certain amount of moisture is requisite, and when this is not sufficiently provided by deep oultivation, mulching and watering must be resorted to in dry weather. No variety of the olive can support burning heat nor freezing cold : thus a northern aspect is chosen in tropical countries, and a southern in temperate climates, and preference is given to gentle slopes, over both plains and hill-tops. When the face of the hill is too abrupt, it is often cut in terraces, as in Fig. 1019. In the Old World, olive-culture ie successful wherever the mean annual temperature is (58°-66° F.), that of the ooldest month not falling below 5i° (42° F.), nor that of the hottest below 22° (71° F.). The altitude varies with the latitude, aspect, and prox imity to the sea.