Besides serving for esthetic purposes, the leaves, in spite of their astringency, are eaten by animals as forage, so that the trees have to be protected from them. It is curious that with all the ravages made by animals on the olive trees in the neglected mission gardens in California, after the missionaries had gone, some of these same trees furnished scions for many of the olive groves of today.
The wood of the olive tree is much prized for certain purposes. It is very close, fine-grained, yellow to yellowish brown with irregular wavy brown to black lines and mottlings, especially near the root. It has no distinguishable annual rings or pith rays, and has evenly distributed vessels. It takes a beautiful polish. At present it is employed chiefly in lathe-work and carving for small fancy articles, and for cabinet work.
In ancient times it seems to have had a much wider application, due no doubt to the size of the trees, which were larger as a result of not being subjected to the rigorous cultivation and pruning which they receive today. The Bible states that olive wood was used in the Temple. In the time of Pliny it furnished material for construction of ships, for wagon spokes, wedges, columns, pedestals, statues, and furniture. The Romans used both the wild and cultivated trees. The wood industry was developed in the vicinity of Nice in both France and Italy, and still flourishes. A considerable amount has been exported to England in recent years for the manufacture of walking sticks. The poorer quality is used for firewood, is inflammable, and produces great heat.
The bark contains a large amount of tannin. For medicinal purposes it is reduced to powder and acts as an astringent, a tonic, and a febrifuge. In warm climates a resin is exuded from it which solidifies in the air. It is called Lecca gum, as it was first found near Lecca. It contains some benzoic acid among other constituents and in ancient times was prescribed in medicine, but is not at present, and the gum is considered valueless.
The fruit has been considered a choice food at all times. It has appeared at the feasts of epicures, both ancient and modern, as a relish, and to be eaten at the end of the repast as part of the dessert, and at all times it has also furnished a staple food for the poor in the Orient and in Greek and Latin countries. Those who were well provided were admonished to have care for those less fortunate: “When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.” (Deuteronomy XXIV., 20.) The people obliged to live frugally have found it a great resource, particularly in Lent and for those at a distance from the sea unable to obtain fresh fish. It is said that Plato preferred olives to all other foods, and often made a meal on them alone.