108 



Journal of the Department of agriculture. 



The Pecan Nut. 



Until recently the pecan nut, which is closely allied to the 

 walnut, grew wild in America, being found in the territories adjacent 

 to the Gulf of Mexico, and it is only comparatively recently that it 

 has been cultivated as an ordinary orchard tree. But of late years 

 pecan growing has become increasingly popular in parts of the United 

 States, orange groves being eradicated in some areas in order to plant 

 pecans, and it is now one of the most important nuts grown in 

 America. Mr. Tribolet. the Chief of our Division of Horticulture, 

 describes the pecan as the "' finest edible nut grown in any part of 

 the world," being superior in quality and delicacy to the walnut, and 

 states, in an article which we publish in this issue, that at the rate 

 the trees are being put down in the United States their output of the 

 pecan nut will speedily equal and surpass that of the walnut. The 

 pecan tree is found growing here and there in many parts of the 

 Union, but in most cases the name of the tree and its great possibilities 

 are not known by those on whose farms it is found. So far as walnut 

 cultivation in the Union is concerned we have no figures as to local 

 production and consumption, but our importations are not heavy, 

 averaging — for the five years 1915-1919 — 6625 lb., valued at <£258 

 (not allowing for a large importation from the Argentine Republic in 

 1918 of 88,866 lb., valued at £3635, the only year during this period 

 in which the nut was imported from that country). Mr. Tribolet's 

 article deals with the cultural aspect of the nut, and is published with 

 a view to awakening the interest of some of our farmers to the possi- 

 bilities of this wonderful nut, which it is considered should prove 

 highly remunerative in many parts of the Union, and especially in 

 Natal. 



Group of Ca'aloniaii Donkeys. 



Plant Nurseries in Quarantine as at 1st January, 1921. 



The nurseries in quarantine remain as published in the January, 

 1921, Jaurnal (page 88), except that the quarantine on Mr. Jas. 

 dark's nursery has been removed. 



