PECANS. 211 



position as coming from "Santa Rosa County, Fla.," and 

 justly attracted general attention because of their large 

 size, smooth shell, thin enough to be crushed in the hand, 

 and delicate, sweet flavor. 



This practical proof of what Florida had done, and 

 could do again, at once gave the needed impetus to pecan 

 culture, and already hundreds of young trees from this 

 pioneer orchard are working their way "upward and on- 

 ward " in almost every county in the State. 



The pecan tree appears to have but one enemy, and 

 that one obtains foothold only through carelessness. Watch 

 the trees and keep them free from caterpillars' nests, other- 

 wise a large worm makes its appearance and girdles the 

 limbs, killing them in a short time. The presence of the 

 caterpillar is easily detected, hence can be easily got rid 

 of; so says Mr. Brown, who knows more about pecan cul- 

 ture than any one else in Florida. 



The worm betrays its presence by the exudation of gum 

 on the tree, which, being scraped off, reveals beneath a 

 round hole entering the tree for an inch or two and then 

 turning upward ; a piece of wire thrust into this hole will 

 kill the worm. If, however, the worm is not found there, 

 but has deserted the scene of its first labors, dig around 

 the roots of the tree close to the trunk, and it will be 

 found to a certainty. 



Mr. Brown reports that he searches for these worms, 

 which are striped and long-nosed, every spring, but has 

 only killed seven ; hence, they are certainly not very for- 

 midable from numbers, if hunted down in this manner. 



The several varieties in this pioneer orchard, than which 

 no better can be found for planting throughout the State, 

 or outside of it either, are named as follows, all of them 

 being remarkably soft-shelled : 



