The Pecan Nut. 129 



THE PECAN NUT. 



(V I. Tribolet, Chief, Division of Hnrtirullnre. 



The pecan unt is closely allied to the walnut, in fact it belonofs to 

 the same natnral order (JufjJandarea). It is one of the hickories and 

 ihe generally accepted botanical name is Hicorw pecan. It groMs 

 wild in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and other adjacent 

 territories aroiuid the Gulf of Mexico. Until quite recently this 

 fruit tree was not cultivated as an ordinary (;r(diard tree, the whole 

 of the pecan output being obtained from the trees growing wild in 

 forests. Of late years pecan growing has become increasingly popular 

 in parts of the IJnited States, to such an extent that orange groves 

 are being eradicated in order to plant pecans, and consequently it is 

 now one of the most important nuts grown m America. The trees 

 lieing put down from year to year will soon bring the yield of pecan 

 nuts up to that of the walnut, which it will, as things are at present 

 progressing, soon surpass in output, as it does m quality and delicacy. 



These few notes are not intended as a treatise on this wonderful 

 nut, but are simply written to awake an interest in some of our more 

 progressive fruit growers who may see fit to take up the culture of 

 the finest edible nut grown in any part of the world. 



The pecan tree is not altogether foreign to this country as it is 

 found growing here and there in a great many parts of the Union. 

 The history of the first introduction of the tree into South Africa 

 is obscure, but it is known that a few years ago introductions were 

 made by the late Mr. Watkinson, of Cairn, Transvaal, mostly seedling 

 types, and since then several good varieties of trees have })een intro- 

 duced by different growers, one being Mr. J. Bell, of Krantzkloof, 

 TS^atal. One comes across odd trees in Natal, Drakenstein, Oudts- 

 hoorn, Potchefstrocm, ]\'elspruit, and other places. In some, if not 

 most cases, the name of the tiee is not even known by those on whose 

 faims it is found. 



Proparjation. — The propagation of this tree from the seed is not 

 difficult, and is similar to that of the walnut, exce'<l that as ^-lou 

 as the nuts are ripe those required for seed should be stratified in 

 beds of slightly moist sand mixed with a little wood-ash; should they 

 become very dry, it is advisable to soak them for two or three days in 

 water before placing them in beds to germinate, i^s soon as the nuts 

 .start to show life by splitting, they are planted out in nursery rows, 

 about 3 to 4 feet apart and a foot in the lines. The ground should be 

 well worked and must be naturally fertile or made so by the addition 

 of manure, well rotted, and worked into the soil. The rows in which 

 the nuts stand are usually sunk to the depth of 2 to 3 inches, and, 

 after setting out the embryo plants around which the soil must be 

 well pressed, a layer of ash or weak stable manure is spread in the 

 hollowed out rows. 



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