8 CIRCULAR 112, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



The figures shown in Table I, with the exception of those regarding 

 the orchard of 200 trees previously mentioned, the yields of which 

 were recorded by the writer, have been made by careful orchard 

 owners, who furnished the data to the Department of Agriculture. 



Another record, which has been submitted in different form from 

 middle Georgia, is as follows: 



Stuart Few nuts fourth year; increase yearly to 



ninth year 2£ to 3 pounds. 

 Mobile Few nuts third year; increase yearly to 



ninth year 5 to 15 pounds. 

 Teche and Frotscher Few nuts fifth year; increase yearly to 



ninth year 2 to 5 pounds. 



Rome Few nuts eighth and ninth years. 



Capitol Few nuts fiflh year; increase yearly to 



ninth year 2 to 3 pounds. 



Senator 



Atlanta \ "No good.' 



Centennial 



CONCLUSIONS. 



Pecan orchards demand the same intelligent management as other 

 orchards. It is sometimes held that being a native of the forest the 

 tree not only needs no cultivation but will do better without it. 

 This theory might be applied with equal reason to any fruit tree, and 

 in answer it is only necessary to suggest a comparison between wild 

 and cultivated apples, pears, oranges, or other fruits. The impres- 

 sion that the pecan tree has no enemies in the way of insect pests or 

 fungous diseases, that it is not subject to damage from drought, wet 

 weather, or freezing temperatures, and that the nuts are in unlimited 

 demand at a dollar or more a pound is at variance with the facts. 

 The pecan is often subject to serious injury by numerous insects and 

 diseases, and it is also much affected by unfavorable weather. Warm 

 spells in winter followed by sharp freezes not infrequently result in 

 the death of young trees; rains occasionally interfere with pollina- 

 tion; prolonged dry weather causes the nuts to be small and perhaps 

 to drop prematurely; and warm, wet weather may cause the nuts to 

 become moldy or to germinate while still in the hulls. Although in 

 the past choice pecans have frequently brought two, three, or more 

 cents a nut when sold by the pound, it is evident that when sold on 

 their merit in competition with wild pecans and when the orchards 

 now being planted reach bearing age the prices will fall materially 

 below the figures now often cited by enthusiastic exploiters. 



The prospective pecan grower should, of course, bear in mind that 

 no horticultural product is free from its troubles, and while the pecan 

 has its full share its culture probably has no more drawbacks than 



[Cir. 112] 



