[1651] The heat of Africa is unfavourable to the olive.
[1652] The fæces, marc, or lees. This is a crude juice contained in the cellular tissue of the fruit, known as viridine or chlorophylle.
[1653] This is owing, Fée says, to a sort of fermentation, which alters the tissue of the cells containing the oil, displaces the constituent elements, and forms others, such as mucus, sugar, acetic acid, ammoniac, &c. When ripe, the olive contains four oils; that of the skin, the flesh, the stone, and the kernel.
[1655] See B. xviii. c. 74.
[1656] 16th of September.
[1657] De Causis, B. i. c. 23.
[1658] This cannot possibly increase the oil, but it would render it more fluid, and thereby facilitate its escape from the cells of the berry.
[1659] But Cato, Re Rust. c. 144, adds the very significant words, “injussu domini aut custodis.” “Without the leave of the owner or the keeper.”
[1660] It is found that the olive, after an abundant season, will not bear in the following year; probably the result of exhaustion.