OLIPHANT. 791 OLIVE. burgh, Midlothiiin, Scotland, April 4, 1S28. In 1852 she niiuricd her cousin, Francis Oliphant, who died at Konie iu 1859, leaving her penniless vith three children to .sui)port. Already favor- ably known as a novelist, she could gain a liveli- hood with her pen, hut the story of her efforts to rear her children and look after her helpless kinsfolk is a painful one. Her work during the ne.t forty years, in spite of tlui speed with which it was done, is of a good quality, both in fiction and literary history. In 18U4 she again went to Italy, and in 1890 slie visited the Holy Land. From 1808 she received a civil list pen- sion of flOO. Slie died at Windsor, June 25, 1897. Her first novel. Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Mailhnid of Hunnyside (1849), won instant attention and approval. Its most distinctive charm is the tender humor and in- sight Avliich regulate its exipiisito delineation of Scottish life and character at once on their l igher and lower levels. It was followed by Jlerhland (1851): Adam Graeme of Mossyrny { 1852) ; Henry Muir ( 1853) ; Mai/dalen Hepburn (1854); The Quiet Heart (1854); Zaidee t 1856) ; and several other novels, some of
- hich originally appeared in Blackwood's Maga-
zine. It was, however, by the Chroiticirs of Varlinyford that Mrs. Oliplmnt's reputation as a novelist was first assured. In the first of them. The Hector and the Doctor's Family (1863), aside from its other merits, which are great, the character of Netty, the heroine, en- livens the whole work, and may rank as an original creation. The other, Salem Chapel (1863), perhaps indicates a wider and more vigorous grasp than is to be found in any ether work of the authoress. Among succeeding novels are: Three Brothers (1870); Squire Ardcn (1871); A Iio<sc in June (1874); The Primrose Path (1878): Kirsten (1890); The Marriar/e of Elinor (1892) ; and A Widoic's Tale (1898)'. Other works are the Life of Edward Irviny (18G2) ; Saint Francis of Assist (18G8) ; Memoir of the Comte de Montnlcmbcrt (1872) ; The Makers of Florence (1874); The Literary History of England from J790 to 182.5 (1882)"; The Mrilers of Vrniee (1887) ; Jioiial Edinburgh (1890) : Life of Laurence Oliphant (1891) ; The Victorian Age of English Literature (1892); The Ueign of Queen Anne (1894) ; The Makers ■of Modern Rome (1895): and WilVmm Black- wood and His Sons (1897). Although most of these afford sober entertainment, none of them is deep enough to give Mrs. Oliphant the highest rank as a critic or as an historian. Consult the Aulohingraphy, ed. b.y Coghill (New York, 1899). OLIPHANT, Thom.vs Laurence Kixc.ton (1831—). An English biographer and philolo- gist. He was born near Bristol, was educated at Eton and Oxford, and studied in the Inner Tem- ple. Besides his historical works, The Emperor Frederick the Second (1802), The -Jaeohile Lairds of Gask (1870), and The Due de Luynes (1875), he wrote excellent sketches of the his- torical di'volnpment of English, among which the more important are: The Sources of Stand- <ird English (1873) ; The Duke and the Scholar (1S75) : nid and Middle Enalish (1878: 2d ed. 1893) ; and Xcw English (1880). OLIVArEZ. o'li'-vii'rftth. f;..'!i>.iio de Civ/.- MAN, Count. Duke of San Lucar de Barr.i- meda (1587-1645). Prime Minister of Philip IV. of Spain. He was born at Rome, where his father was Ambassador. He received an excel- lent education at Salamanca, became the friend of Philip IV., his confidant in his amours, and (1021) his Prime Minister, in which capacity he exercised almost unlimited jiower for twenty-two years. Olivarez was al)le, and eariieslly desirous of improving' the condition of his country: but he yielded to the ambitions of Philip, which plunged Spain into the Thirty Veais' ar. The war for the subjugation of the Netherlands, which had been resumed in 1021, was waged without success. Resorting to aii.y means to I'aisc money, his oppressive measures caused insurrections in Catalonia and Naples, and roused the Portuguese to shake off the Spanish yoke in 1640. Repeated defeats encountered by Spain forced the King to dismiss Olivarez in 1643. He died at Toro. OLIVE (Lat. oliva, from Gk. e?Ma, elaia, olive). A plant of great economic value which has been in cultivation from prehistoric times, belonging to the genus Olea, of which there are some 30 species. The cultivated sorts originateil from Olea Enropwa. The nativity of the olive is accredited to Southern Europe and Asia Minor, and by some authorities to Syria. The tree is of gi-eat vitality, specimens being known which are said to be 1000 years old. It sometimes at- tains a height of 40 feet; has opposite, leathery, grayish-green smooth evergreen leaves, and drupaceous fruits which vary in color from waxen yellow to black. The area for successful olive culture is restricted by its heat requirements more than by soil or moisture. It enjoys a dry climate, and will thrive on a thin soil and pro- duce well if only the pomace is returned to the land from the oil press. Since this contains all the compounds derived from the soil, fertilization and cultivation increase the yield. The trees should be planted at least 33 feet apart eacli way, and if given the culture usually given prunes or plums will thrive well. The olive thrives best in dry climates like that of Syria and Assyria. It succeeds at the Cape of Good Hope, in Aus- tralia, and in California, where it was introduced at an early date by the Spanish missionaries, from which fact the variety most extensively cultivated in California has been called 'Mission.' Areas which were considered unfit for the in- dustry have proved well suited to some of the early sorts lately imported from Spain and Italy, and the industry is an important factor in the horticultural resources of the State. The tree is propagated either from twig-cut- tings, sprouts or truncheons of old wood set in
