A TREATISE ON NUT CUI/TURE. 107 



nuts from a tree growing at some distance from others (the further the better) 

 such nuts would certainly be the best to plant. The chances that they would 

 reproduce this kind are greater, because the pollen from other trees would not 

 be so likely to reach it at the time of flowering. In this connection, and while 

 I think of it, I certainly advise any one against buying seedling trees, unless from 

 a responsible and reliable nurseryman. There are thousands of such trees being 

 offered for sale, professedly grown from good Pecan, but I know of barrels of 

 almost worthless Pecans to have been sown ostensibly to make stocks for bud- 

 ding, but doubtless many thousands of these will be sold to supply the demand 

 for cheap trees. Far better to plant a nut of good quality which you can see 

 before it goes into the ground, and wait one year longer, than to plant such 

 trees, even if they cost nothing. 



It is best to raise trees in nursery before planting in orchard. Plant the 

 nuts in rows three or four feet apart, drop the nuts in the row, sow four inches 

 from each other, cover two inches deep, and keep the ground clear of weeds 

 and grass. The seed may be planted any time after the nuts ripen until growth 

 starts in the Spring. When two years old the seedlings may be easily and safely 

 transplanted to the orchard. In my opinion, the transplanting of the tree while 

 young is advantageous, inasmuch' as it causes them to make a more spreading 

 head, and to come earlier into bearing. 



In adopting for propagation the three kinds which, on our joint investiga- 

 tion we concluded to be the best, I have named them the " Frotscher," 

 " Rome " and " Centennial." As you know, they are phenomenal in size, thin 

 shell, of rich, sweet quality and finest flavor. 



That you have made a long step towards improvement by selecting only 

 such nuts as these for seed cannot be disputed; but as they do not always come 

 true from seed, perpetuating the good kinds can best be done by budding or 

 grafting. This you know better than myself. 



Respectfully, 



WM. NELSON. 



RAISING PECANS IN TEXAS. 



A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY SUITED TO THE ARID REGIONS OF THAT STATE. 



From the Irrigation Age. 



After careful investigation in 1886 I bought land for Pecan culture on Pecan 

 Bayou, in Texas, where I found the tree growing in its native state. I have 

 now an orchard of eleven thousand trees on my four hundred acres that are 

 one to six years old. As nut culture is attracting attention in the arid region, 

 and the Pecan should thrive wherever the English Walnut does, my experience 

 may be of interest. 



