^8 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



Tbe Pecan Tree, --Its Value and Hoir Grown. 



V. p. Richmond, of Madison county, 111., writes to an Eastern paper in regard to this 

 tree and its fruit : 



" It will grow in any soil where white hickory, butternut or pignut will grow, but it 

 is a native of ricli, alluvial soils, such as the river bottoms of the Mississippi, Missouri 

 and Illinois. The point of land between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers grows very 

 fine specimens, some fifty and sixty feet to the limbs. Its general appearance very mucli 

 resembles the white hickory in leaf, wood and bark, excepting the bark is thicker and 

 softer. I have seen half of trunks of forty feet in length with no perceptible wind. The 

 wood is good for any purpose where the hickory can be used. It is found growing on the 

 Illinois river above Peoria. 



I have trees growing on my farm from the nuts. I planted the nuts in the early part 

 of winter, some two inches deep, in light, rich soil. I think all came up about mid-sum- 

 mer. Thinking there might be a tap root as in hickory, I passed a sharp spade under each 

 root about six inches from the crown. When one year old, I set out four trees — all grew; 

 three finely, one met with an accident ; and gave away a number of which I can give no 

 accoimt. Two remained in the bed. Those removed have made more than double the 

 growth of those remaining in the bed, which I attribute to the difference in soil. The bed 

 was where the clay was only a few inches from the surface ; and where the trees were set 

 the black soil was over two feet deep. The nuts were planted in 1847, and first fruited 

 four years ago. They will vary in coming into bearing about five years, owing to loca- 

 tion and depth of soil, some beginning in fifteen years' growth. 



I think the pecan may be grown in any latitude where the chestnut will grow, but not 

 on the same soil. It is a beautiful tree, grows very straight, upright and symmetrical, and 

 I would advise planting as an ornamental tree. From my experience, I think they bear 

 transplanting better than the chestnut, and as well as any nut-bearing iree. I presume it 

 is necessary to plant seed of the present years' growths. 



The Raspberry— Hoir to Grow Extra Fine Fruit. 



By a. L. Hatch, Ithaca, Wis. 



Soil. — Raspberries succeed best on rich, loose, black soils and not too diy. Maintain 

 the fertility and secure the moisture by liberal mulching, especially while the fruit is grow- 

 ing. If plants are in very rich soil, grow luxuriantly, but bear none, apply ashes early in 

 the spring in reasonable quantities and mix well through the soil. This will tend to 

 induce fruitfulness. 



Shade. — The best berries, especially of black caps, are grown in the shade. This can 

 be partly secured by the following plan : Set plants three or four feet apart in rows 

 extending north and south. Set stakes four feet high between the plants in the rows. 

 Tie the bearing canes rather low to the stake on the north side of the plant. The new 

 shoots will grow up on the south side and will partly shade the fruiting canes. 



A New Method. — This is my way for extra fine fruit, and I woirid especially commend it 

 to amateurs. Set plants two feet apart in rows extending north and south. Give good 

 culture so as to grow strong canes and get the plants well established the first summer. 

 In the fall cut oft" all the canes from every other plant, leaving stubs three or four inches 

 long only. Protect the plants with a fork full or two of coarse barnyard litter. Ne.\t 

 summer give the entire energies of these plants to growing new fruit canes to fruit the 

 next summer after. When the new shoots or canes are two feet or so high, pinch the ends 

 to make them grow stocky. Some canes may bloom and bear fruit in the fall. Such bloom 

 should be removed, as the object is to develop the canes for full fruitage the third summer. 

 The half of the plants not cut back will fruit the second summer. And no new canes 

 .should be allowed to grow then. The plan is to have double the plants usually grown on 

 the same ground, one - half growing canes but no fruit, the other half growing fruit but 

 no canes. The result in fruit is wonderful. 



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