<table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
<pre>The article 'Stress & Water Problems For Australian Olive Groves' as
published in the Australian Olive Grower issue 18 should be mandatory
reading for all olive growers. This quarterly journal is published by
the nursery Olives Australia and whilst is commercial they are to be
congratulated on the reporting of comments made by Mohamed El-Kholy. Mr
El-Kholy made a tour of many olive groves in Australia from Queensland
to West Australia, a huge undertaking by any measures. Observations were
made through test holes and a huge amount of records have been made.
Some extracts of the article are as follows,

'Optimism for the olive industry is out of balance with the healthy
pessimism, which should exist, in a new industry. Some hard thinking has
to be done over the next few years if the industry is to be saved from
disaster.'

'At least 95% of the trees we saw were under terrible water stress.
Almost 98% of the trees have a very shallow root system starting only
25mm below ground and diminishing at a maximum of 150mm.'

'The management practice allowing this shows a complete misunderstanding
of the fact that olives are often characterised as shallow rooted trees.'

'In Australia, investment into irrigation networks is nothing but money
down the drain if the situation is to continue.'

'(However) unless the industry urgently addresses problems relating to
water stress, root management and tree shape training during the first
three years after planting, it will suffer the fate of all who allow
their blind optimism to over ride their healthy pessimism.'

There has already been considerable qualified advice given to proper
ground preparation and orchard management. However, unqualified
conflicting comments from various sources has somewhat muddied the
waters contributing to the general confusion. Growers continue with a
haphazard treatment of the 'symptoms' without the commitment to properly
addressing the 'disease.'

Roger Farquhar Hunter Valley

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
</pre>
</td></tr></table>