112 Zessons in Fruit Growing. 



with terminal-bud cions, and without wax, has been most 

 successful. The stock should be cut off smoothly at the 

 crown, and grafted by splice or side-cleft graft, according 

 to the size of the stock; but one of the splice surfaces 

 should expose the pith. The grafted crown is mounded with 

 moist earth to the top bud of the cion, to prevent drying. 



Ring-budding on the new wood of second-year seedlings 

 is fairly successful when not followed by drought or heavy 

 rains. 



To produce seedlings, the nuts may be planted in au- 

 tumn, in well-drained soil, but where mice and squirrels 

 are troublesome, they are preferably stratified in autumn 

 and planted as early as the ground can be worked in 

 spring. The growth of the young trees should be en- 

 couraged as far as possible the first season. 



153. Planting and cultivation. The trees of most pecan 

 orchards have been planted 40 to 50 feet apart, but 60 feet 

 would probably be a safer distance. Ungrafted seedling 

 trees may be i)lanted closer, with the idea of removing th& 

 unprofitable ones as they become known. Formerly, nuts 

 were often planted where the trees were desired, but latterly 

 the trees have largely been transplanted at 1 or 2 years 

 old from nursery rows. The tap-root of the one-year-old 

 pecan tree is usually much longer than the stem, but it may 

 be moderately shortened without perceptibly checking the 

 growth. 



The success of the orchard depends much upon a vigorous 

 growth of the trees the season after transplanting, hence 

 the soil should be made very rich, and be thoroughly pre- 

 pared. The ground is usually cropped with hoed crops for 

 4 or 5 years; and some growers continue the cropping in- 

 definitely. The soil should be kept in good fertility. 



