ON THE HICKORY NUT 



bearing, and in particular to persistent bearing. 

 So the orchards that have recently been started 

 are stocked with trees that may be expected to 

 bear crops of nuts in about seven or eight years, 

 and that may be depended on to produce a crop 

 each year with reasonable certainty. But as to 

 both time of bearing and regularity and abundance 

 of production, there is still opportunity for much 

 improvement. 



Doubtless improved varieties may be secured 

 through mere selection by raising seedlings from 

 the nuts grown on trees that were especially good 

 bearers. But it is probable, also, that the full pos- 

 sibility of the pecan will not be realized until ex- 

 tensive series of hybridizing experiments have 

 been carried out. 



I have spoken of the natural hybrids between 

 the pecan and the shagbark hickory. Hitherto, no 

 extensive experiments in hybridizing these species 

 have been carried out, although it is possible that 

 some of the wild varieties of pecans that have been 

 brought into the orchard were natural hybrids. 



It is to be hoped that experiments along this 

 line will be taken up in the near future, but, of 

 course, many years will be required before notable 

 results can be attained. 



It is desirable, also, to attempt hybridizing the 

 pecan with the butternut and walnut, and with the 



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