85 



Oberman. Mr. Snyder further writes that " these varieties while not 

 so large as those found growing farther south, yet are large enough 

 to be desirable and when it comes to quality, freshness of cracking 

 and thin shells they cannot be surpassed by any." Mr. Rielil be- 

 lieved that pecans will not be hardy and productive in Illinois as a 

 commercial proposition north of the thirty-ninth degree. Alton, Mr. 

 Riehl's home, is just south of this line. 



It is true that north of Alton in Calhoun County, native pecans are 

 common, grow vigorously, and bear well some years. The late frost 

 list spring cut down the crop materially. This often happens in that 

 section. However, many excellent varieties originating in southern 

 Indiana can be planted with fair promise of success in southern Illinois, 

 south of the thirty-ninth degree of latitude. These include the Niblack, 

 Busseron and Posey. While not as large as the southern types, these 

 varieties have a fairly thin shell of excellent cracking quality, with 

 plump kernels of rich flavor. The Posey is said to be the easiest of 

 the three to cr;ick and is of good size. It has the reputation, however, 

 of being a shy bearer. 



The Shagbark Hickory 



This species is the most valu.tble of the hickories for Illinois plant- 

 ing excepting the pecan. It is found well distributed over the state, 

 sometimes on low lying sandy loams along the river bottoms. It is 

 also found commonly on the rolling uplands, especially on the sides 

 of the hills, associated there with the shellbark. The soil type conimoji 

 there is known as yellow gray silt loam on undlilating timber soil. 

 The shag'bark is very promising for selection and improvement. The 

 nut varies greatly in size and' shape and cracking quality. Some 

 strains have exceptionally thin shells, and crack easily. The varieties 

 Hales and Vest are highly recommended. 



TJie Shellbork Hickory 



'Sometimes called the big shell bark or King Nut, this species is 

 found native over the state, at least as far north as Peoria County. 

 It more often prefers the low lying river and creek bottoms and like 

 the pecan does not suffer from an occasional overflow if not too long 

 continued. The tree and nut are both larger tlian the shngbark. The 

 nut is thicker shelled and the kernel, though good in quality, is not 

 so much sought after as the shagbark. The Weiker variety is jDrobably 



