PECANS. 213 



"gathered" the nuts by throwing sticks and stones at the 

 trees instead of shaking them, their present production is 

 simply wonderful and very significant. 



We acknowledge our indebtedness to their present owner 

 for many points of value given here regarding pecan cul- 

 ture. 



It is yet too early in the history of Florida horticulture 

 to speak very positively as to the destined value of other 

 nut-trees in her future development. But we believe, rea- 

 soning from analogy, and from instances here and there 

 that have come to our knowledge of experiments success- 

 fully made in different sections of the State, that the pro- 

 duction of nuts of all kinds will eventually become one 

 of bountiful Florida's leading industries. 



Walnut and hickory and oak trees are indigenous to the 

 State : surely this is hint enough to the wise man to press 

 forward and use this fact to his profit. 



The white walnut, the butternut, and the chestnut, es- 

 pecially the Japan chestnut, are all quickly maturing trees, 

 and their nuts of superior quality. The white walnut and 

 the butternut bear in five or six years from the seed. 



They like a light, sandy soil or loam, either naturally or 

 artificially fertilized ; a clay subsoil is no objection, but it 

 must be dry, whatever be its nature. Set the trees forty 

 feet apart and cultivate between, either to annual crops or 

 the smaller fruit trees, peaches, figs, plums, or grapes, or 

 berries. 



The English walnut also succeeds well, having been 

 thoroughly tested. 



The smaller soft-shell varieties of the walnut are most 

 profitable to cultivate ; when the common hard-shell vari- 

 ety sells for nine cents a pound, the former readily bring 

 fourteen to fifteen; they also bear earlier than the hard- 

 shell black walnut. 



