Part 15 (1/2)
The fruit of the Olive Tree, an evergreen, now common in the woods of France, Spain, and Italy; but in the wild state producing a small fruit of no value; when cultivated, however, (which it is extensively, both for the fruit and the quantity of oil which it yields,) it forms one of the richest productions of Southern Europe The olive cainally from Asia Its use is very ancient; it is frequently spoken of in the Bible, both as in a wild and cultivated state The promised land of the Israelites was ”a land of oil, olive, and honey” From the time that the dove returned to Noah in the Ark with an ”olive leaf plucked off,” in all ages and countries, wherever this tree is known, down to the present day, has an olive-branch been the favorite ereat repute?
This tree was a great favorite with the ancient Greeks, and scarcely an ancient custom existed in which the olive was not in soes and festivals, all parts of their dwellings, especially the doors, were ornamented with them, and the same custom prevails at the present day, both in public and private rejoicings It was also scarcely less a favorite with the Roht as ast the Greeks The olive-branch has likewise been universally considered the emblem of plenty, and as such, is found on the coins of those countries of which it is _not_ a native Two centuries after the foundation of Roers to this useful plant; it afterwards becath arrived in Spain, France, &c Olive trees soe
How are the Olives eaten?
The olives while on the tree are intolerably bitter, without any of that peculiar taste which gains them admittance at the richest tables; to fit them for which they are pickled Ripe olives are eaten in the Eastern countries, especially ast the Greeks, as an article of food, particularly in Lent The oil, which they yield in great quantities, is very highly estee that chiefly used for salads, &c, in medicine, and in various ; the time from Ash-Wednesday to Easter
How is the Oil drawn from the Olive?
By presses or mills made for the purpose The sweetest and best olive oil comes from the South of France, froht from Spain and the Ionian Islands
Where is Naples?
In the South of Italy
Where are Florence and Lucca situated?
In Italy Florence is a very ancient, large, and celebrated city, the capital of Italy; Lucca, fordom of Italy
_Republic_, a state in which the supreed in representatives chosen by the people, instead of being vested in an ereen: to what plant or shrub is the term particularly applied?
To any shrub or tree whose leaves continue fresh and green all the year round, winter and summer, as the laurel, pine, cedar, holly, &c, which do not shed their leaves in autumn as other trees
Is oil a production confined to the Olive alone?
By no etable and animal bodies The oils in common use are of three different kinds The first are mere _oily_ or fatty bodies, extracted either by pressure, or by decoction: of the first kind are those of almonds, nuts, olives, &c; and of the other, those of different berries, &c, which are procured by boiling the substance in water, which causes the oil to collect on the top
_Decoction_, act of boiling--a chemical term
What are the second and third kinds of Oils?
The second are those drawn froetables by common distillation in the alembic, with the aid of water; these contain the _oily_ and volatile part of the plant, and are called _essential_ oils The third sort are those produced by distillation, but of a different kind in an open vessel, and without the help of water They are likewise divided into _vegetable_ oils, _animal_ oils, and _mineral_ oils; which last are those drawn froetable and mineral natures, as Petroleum, commonly known as kerosene or coal oil
_Ale It consists of a vessel placed over a fire, containing the substance to be distilled; the upper part, which receives and condenses the steam, is called the head; the beak of this is fitted to a vessel called a receiver