98 A TREATISE ON NUT CULTURE. 



unfavorable to its thrift when not too prolonged or of over-frequent occurrence ; 

 still as a tree it adapts itself and will succeed satisfactorily in growth and bear- 

 ing in a varying degree upon every class of soils, and the writer has seen good 

 results both on thin, sandy lands and vipon the pine flats; unquestionably, how- 

 ever, the deep alluviums or river lands, even those liable to occasional overflow, 

 and such as are in consequence of little value for other purposes, constitute 

 those of the greatest value to plant the Pecan upon, and we draw special atten- 

 tion to a fact of such deep significance. For the rest it is not advisable to select 

 land to plant on with too compact a subsoil, likely to hold surface water or 

 keeping the roots soaked beneath too continuously, though even these least 

 desirable of all lands to plant on are not barren of good results. A happy mean 

 in respect to moisture afforded is the point to aim at, and a fertility, natural if 

 it be possible, or otherwise approximated by due and regular addition of ferti- 

 lizers. It is self-evident that the Pecan calls for an equal draft upon the .soil 

 as would a crop of corn. The Pecan is a gross feeder ; you cannot expect to 

 raise a premium crop of the latter without a fertile soil, and in this respect the 

 Pecan is exactly similar in its requirements. 



The cultivation should be thorough. It is best to grow some crop the first 

 four or five years. Cotton, if you are located in the cotton growing belt, or any 

 crop that requires clean culture will do, and by mulching around the tree when 

 the trees are come into bearing the orchard may be turned into a pasture. But 

 the treatment of a Pecan orchard should not differ much from that of an apple 

 orchard or an orange grove. I know trees here that are thirteen years old, 

 bearing from one barrel to one barrel and a half of nuts, and are one foot in 

 diameter, and others of same age not four inches in diameter. So much for 

 care and cultivation. 



Trees should not be planted less than forty feet apart, sixty and seventy 

 feet, according to the natural fertility of the soil, to insure the most lasting 

 results in form and fruit for the succeeding years. 



The Pecan begins to bear a few nuts at six to seven years of age, but at ten 

 years if the trees have had good care and soil to grow in you may expect a pay- 

 ing crop, increasing annually until the tree arrives at a mature bearing age, in 

 thirty to forty years. 



PECAN AND FRUIT CULTURE. 



Herbert Post, in the Southern Florist and Gardener. 



The people who have never made a study of nut and fruit culture have no 

 idea what these industries are worth to the country. 



When lands that are unsalable at $5 per acre can be made in ten years or 

 less to be worth $1,000 per acre, with continued increase for years, it is worth 

 investigation. 



