THE HICKORIES PECAN. 63 



NAMED VARIETIES. 



Propagators of choice pecans have named some of their best varieties, and by 

 careful selection are endeavoring to fix the types they have selected, either by bud 

 propagation or by growing selected seedlings. It may be well to repeat here the 

 qualities that are regarded most desirable in selecting pecans for planting or for 

 propagating in other ways. They are: First, large size and plump kernel. Thirty- 

 three to thirty-five large pecan nuts are contained in a pound; of medium-sized ones 

 there are about fifty to the pound. Second, choice quality; a nut of but small size 

 may be worthy of propagation if it has high quality and a thin shell. Third, thin 

 shell. Fourth, early maturity of fruit and productiveness of tree. A dwarfish habit 

 of growth is also desirable. 



When choice pecans are to be propagated from seed the greatest care should be 

 exercised to guard against the deteriorating influence of pollen from inferior varieties. 

 Evil effects may be feared even from the presence of other species of hickory in the 

 neighborhood, as natural hybrids between the pecan and other hickories are not 

 infrequently found. Choice varieties should have appropriate names applied to them 

 before being introduced to the general public or put on sale. The same rules should 

 be observed in selecting names as are followed in naming fruits. There has been 

 little concerted action in this regard, but with a view to avoiding future confusion it 

 is to be hoped no more "paper-shells" or "eggshells" will be put upon the market, 

 especially with the prefix or suffix of the town, county, or State where grown. Some 

 of the best varieties introduced are here described and illustrated : 



BILOXI (pi. 8, fig. 13). From the late W. E. Stuart, Ocean Springs, Miss. A 

 very thin-shelled nut of second size and quality, and a large amount of red, corky 

 growth in partition walls of nut. 



CENTENNIAL (pi. 9, fig. 8). From Richard Frotscher, New Orleans, La. A large 

 oblong nut; thickness of shell medium; considerable red, corky growth in partition 

 walls; kernel plump, oily, good. 



FAUST (pi. 9, figs. 3 and 4). From O. D. Faust, Bamberg, S. C. A long, quite 

 large nut, well worthy of propagation. 



FROTSCHER (pi. 9, fig. 5). From Eichard Frotscher, New Orleans, La. Size 

 large; shell very thin; kernel quite oily; quality good. 



IDLEWILD (pi. 9, fig. 2). From Louis Biediger, Idlewild, Tex. This is a choice 

 nut, of recent introduction; quality good; shell rather thick. 



(pi. 8, fig. 15). A seedling, unnamed, from B. M. Young, Morgan City, La. 



Size medium; shell thin; quality good. 



JEWETT (pi. 9, fig. 12). From the late W. E. Stuart, Ocean Springs, Miss. A 

 large oblong nut, somewhat angular, compressed near the center of most specimens; 

 thickness of shell medium; corky inner growth considerable; quality very good. 



JUMBO (pi. 9, fig. 7). From F. M. Eamsey, Bluffton, Tex. A very fine, large, 

 ovoid nut, with quite thin shell, but having a good deal of red, corky growth in the 

 partition walls; quality excellent. 



McCALLiSTER (Synonym: Floyd) (pi. 9, fig. 6). Eeceived from O. L. McCallister, 

 Mount Vernon, Ind. This is probably a hybrid. It is the largest nut among all the 

 hickories received at this office. The hull is about one-fourth of an inch thick when 

 dry, and opens readily to the base with four valves. Nut 2 inches long, l-^ inches 

 wide, and 1^ inches thick; base broad, rounded; apex broad, blunt, angular. In 

 compressed form, in color of nut, also in the angularity and thickness of shell, it is 

 quite similar to shellbark hickory. The kernel of a well-filled specimen is in color, 

 consistency, and flavor more like a shellbark of high quality than a pecan. The tree 

 is reported to be " so similar to pecan in bark and leaf that it would be impossible to 

 detect the difference," yet the buds and young wood more closely resemble shellbark. 

 The tree was found many years ago on a farm now owned by Mr. McCallister; the 



