506 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



of peaches. However, in no way does this almond compare with those 

 in the market. 



Nuts of Minor Importance. — In this class belong all of our native tree 

 nuts, with the exception of the pecan. Our native hickories, the shag- 

 bark {Hicoria ovata), the shellbark (Hicoria laciniosa) and the pignut 

 (Hicoria glabra), the butternut (Juglans cinerea), the American hazel 

 (Corvlus amcricana), the beech (Fagus grandifolia) and certain foreign nuts, 

 especially the Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), and the Asiatic 

 walnuts (Juglans sieboldiana and Juglans mandshurica) , afford most 

 inviting fields for the breeder and improver of nut trees. 



The most of these species are capable of culture in the Eastern states 

 from lower New England south to the middle Atlantic and west to the 

 Mississippi. It is quite probable that this group also offers the most fruit- 

 ful possibilities in nut culture in the states lying between this section and 

 the Rocky Mountains. 



In general, prospective growers of nut trees should obtain their stock 

 from reliable nursery concerns, and in so far as obtainable, budded or 

 grafted trees only should be planted. These are not now obtainable to 

 any extent of the group just mentioned, although several varieties of 

 hickory and black walnut are now being propagated by a few nursery 

 concerns. 



• Nut trees should be ranked in the class with other kinds of fruit trees, 

 and must be given the same degree of attention. Under the most favor- 

 able conditions commercial returns may be expected with almonds in 

 from 6 to 8 years from the time of setting the trees; with Persian walnut 

 trees in from 8 to 10 years; and with southern pecans in from 10 to 12 years. 

 Almond trees may be set at from 28 to 30 feet apart, while walnuts and 

 pecans should be set not nearer than 60 feet. 



Each species of nut tree has its insect pests and fungous diseases, 

 each of which is more or less serious. With the almond, the present most 

 serious pest doubtless is the red spider; with the walnut, it is the walnut 

 blight; and with the pecan, it is the rosette; although each species of tree 

 has its other serious enemies. 



REFERENCES 



Georgia Expt. Station Bulletin 116. "Pecans." 



Farmers' Bulletin 700, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. "Pecan Culture, with Special Refer- 

 ence to Propagation and New Varieties." 



