290 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The idea that a hickory or pecan will not grow if the tap root is 

 severed is a wrong one, as they will bear it about as well as any other 

 tree, and it is not at all difficult to transplant them. 



From observation, my impression is that it takes a pecan about 

 eight years to come into bearing, and a hickory somewhat longer. The 

 Shell-bark is the most valuable of the hickories, although in this neigh- 

 borhood there are some very large nuts of great value that seem to 

 me to be crosses between the true Shell-bark and our large hard-shells, 

 that can be found along the Missouri river and in the creek bottoms. 



The chestnut, which it was contended at one time would not grow 

 here, can be grown successfully, not only our natives from the East, 

 but the Europeans and the Japanese; the latter and their progeny 

 are the most valuable, and bear in a few years from seed or grafting. 



I once raised several hunired of our natives by planting them in 

 the fall, similar to the way described for the pecans in the spring. 

 Some of those I set out in an orchard that may soon bear. 



I am waiting for them to bloom so as to impregnate the blossoms 

 of a Paragon, that bears enormous burrs with large chests in them, but 

 no meat. 



It will be well to have several trees in a group, so as to secure 

 impregnation while in bloom. 



The chinquapin, a very small acorn-shaped chestnut, is very sweet, 

 and produces well, but never makes more than a large shrub. I have 

 these growing, but they have not yet borne fruit. 



Walnuts grow about as freely as sound corn grains. Simply cover 

 in the fall an inch or two deep. These should be planted where the 

 tree is to stay, as they soon get so large that they are unwieldy and 

 not so sure to grow. 



As to grafting this nut family, I have had such poor success with 

 them that any counsel on that subject would not be of benefit. 



One thing I would advise to those contemplating pecan nut grow- 

 ing, not to get the southern varieties unless they live in 36 degrees 

 latitude and further south. 



Stewart & Co. of Ocean Springs, Miss., are the men to get trees 

 from for the south, and they have issued a little work on the subject 

 that will be a great help to one going in the business. 



