Product Description

First released in 1994, this manual quickly became a bestseller as the definitive guide to olive production in California. Now completely revised and updated, growers will want to update their libraries with this much-anticipated new edition. This 180-page manual is fully illustrated with 40 tables, 19 line drawings, and 36 charts, and 100 color and black and white photos. The most notable additions include a new chapter on deficit irrigation, a greatly expanded chapter on olive oil production, and coverage of four new pests, including the olive fly. Includes production techniques for commercial growers worldwide - from orchard planning and maintenance to harvesting and postharvest processing. The second edition contains new and expanded information on pollination, pruning for shaker and vertical rotating comb harvest, mechanical pruning, deficit irrigation, mechanical harvesting methods including trunk-shaking and canopy contact harvesters, postharvest handling and processing methods, and olive oil production. Also includes information on new pests including olive fly, oleander scale, olive mite, and black vine weevil.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1024888 in Books
• Published on: 1994-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive manual on olive growing
Louise Ferguson and her colleagues present a unique set of topics on the olive (Olea europaea), its growth and development and downstream processing of the olive fruit for eating and olive oil production. Topics include varieties, nutrition, planning olive groves, water requirements, pruning and training as well as propogating methods and pest management. This text, an international standard for olive production, has been developed from the research activities of the University of California (Davis) USA. The text is well written and illustrated with diagrams, graphs and coloured photographs. The latter dealing with problems that can be experienced in olive growing. A modern commercial olive grove can be established and managed with the information presented. This text is a must for all those dealing with olives especially horticultralists, growers and horticultural students.

Practical
Very practical book, gives a complete overview about different aspects of the subjects. Good guidlines, clear explanation, and demonstrations. Indeed it is worthy.

Key text for the olive producer
Its tag as the olive 'bible' is well-earned. Especially useful for those starting out in olive production, this manual presents a clear overview of what is involved from start to finish in the olive production process. Although based on the Californian industry, the manual will service nearly all other olive growing regions equally well.
[NB: For southern hemisphere readers it is necessary to translate the months and seasons into the southern equivalent - but this minor inconvenience fades into the background within a couple of pages.]
Unsurprisingly, the manual is a perfect complement for that other brilliant olive must-have, Mort Rosenblum's 'The Life and Lore of a Noble Fruit' - the former provides the practical know-how required to harness the passion and love associated with the olive evoked by the latter travelogue.