Among the ancient Jews the oil was considered indispensable and as necessary as bread. An abundance of oil was looked upon as a blessing from God. Vast public storehouses were constructed to hold it for the scarce years. To the Greeks the three indispensable foods were oil, grains, and wine, the oil entering into most of their dishes. The Romans had a large trade in the oil, and it was also used, to a large extent, in their domestic cooking. In Italy and Spain street vendors fry fritters in the oil and sell them while hot. It has considerable use in conserving fish, particularly sardines. The higher grades of French, Spanish, Norwegian, and American sardines are packed in olive oil. This use has been extended in recent years to the packing of tuna fish. Olive oil occupies a high position as a vegetable fat. Many others have been prepared and offered as substitutes, and if judged by chemical composition alone, give practically equal food value, but are lacking in the delicious flavor which makes olive oil distinctive and gives it a superiority over all other oils. The oil is a large factor in the industries; it serves as an extractive of perfumes, as a constituent of fine, smooth soaps, and as a lubricant in watch factories. Formerly the lower grades were used commonly for lubricating purposes, but with improved methods of clarifying and the greater expense attendant on its use, it has been superseded by cheaper lubricants. An enormous quantity has been and is still used in religious ceremonies, in the ordinations of the clergy and rulers, and anointing in the sacraments, besides by old world peoples generally in the lamps in the churches and temples, many of which are kept burning continually. An idea of the vast amount consumed for this purpose can be obtained from the fact that in one mosque alone there are 1,200 lamps burning constantly, and requiring about 25,000 kilos of oil annually. In medicine it has been and is still used extensively. The ancients rubbed it on their bodies to make the muscles supple and to cleanse and protect the skin, particularly after bathing, and it still functions for these purposes. It was used to heal wounds, in liniments, and as a mild laxative. At present it is a constituent of liniments, ointments, cerates, and plasters. The people who are habitual patrons of the olive and its oil are noted for their smooth, beautiful complexions. It is said “the warm rosy complexion of the Italian and Sicilian women is due to the free use of olive oil as much as to the air and climate of their country.” The residue or marc which remains after the oil is extracted is used as a food for sheep and hogs, for fertilizer, and for fuel, and there is obtained from it a clear, illuminating gas. PREPARATION OF FRUIT Foreign