THE PECAN NUT-TREE 



Carya olivaeformis Nutt. JUGLANDACEAE. 



Maltese pecan. Italian=pean. French pecanier. 



The tree is native of North America, and certain 

 improved sorts are now propagated on a considerable 

 scale to meet the ever growing demand for pecan nuts. 

 It is a deciduous tree of tall habit, from 8 to 15 meters 

 high, resembling a walnut tree, but with narrower and 

 toothed leaflets, and thinner reddish brown twigs with 

 black buds. The tree flowers in March or April, the 

 catkins of male flowers being produced profusely from 

 the old wood, and the pistilliferous flowers being pro- 

 duced in small clusters at the apex of the old wood. The 

 nuts mature in September or October. The pecan nut, 

 also written pekan nut, resembles a walnut in confor- 

 mation but is more slender, and usually has a thinner 

 shell. The kernel tastes like that of a walnut and 

 though smaller in size, is considered more delicate in 

 flavour. 



The tree agrees well with our soil and climate, and 

 thrives in all situations, but prefers a deep moist soil, 

 where it makes rapid growth and soon becomes a large 

 tree. It was introduced in these Islands in 1910 by Mr. 

 Francesco Brincat, Head Gardener at Ta-Braxia Ceme- 

 tery, and the first tree raised at San Antonio fruited for 

 the first time in 1919. There are now various pecan nut 

 trees growing in the Public Gardens raised from nuts 

 sown in 1911 and 1912. 



The tree is propagated by seeds or nuts which are 

 sown in pots in December- February, and germinate in 

 March- April; but in the United States selected sorts are 

 propagated by budding or grafting on seedlings, much 

 in the same way as walnut trees. The tree seems to be 

 hardier than the walnut tree, and has a better consti- 



