THE PECAN. 



PECAN TAP-ROOTS* 



MALE FLOWERS OF PECANt 



The author of "Nut Culture in the United States," issued by the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of Pomology, with the 

 characteristic conservativeness of departmental writing, says: — 



"Of the eight or nine species of the genus Hicoria, but four are worthy 

 of the special attention of the nut grower as trees likely to produce market- 

 able fruit in profitable quantities. First among these is the H. pecan. 

 Pomologically, this is scarcely less important than the Persian (English) 

 walnut or almond at the present time. With an area of adaptation in 

 the United States considerably larger than is found for either of the others, 

 and with a susceptibility to improvement by selection, in size of nut, thin- 

 ness of shell and delicacy of flavor that are very encouraging to those who 

 have attempted this work, the pecan is probably destined to become the 

 leading nut of the American market. If its cultivation is pushed with the 

 usual skill and energy of American enterprise, there Is reason to believe 

 that It will not be many years before the pecan will become, not only an 

 abundant nut in our markets, but also an important article of export." 



Since the Government published the quoted work on nut culture, 

 six years ago, our Southern friends have devoted much skill, energy 

 and enterprise to the pecan cause. As a result larger nuts with 

 thinner shells and finer flavor have been produced; new ideas in 

 budding and grafting from fine varieties to reproduce desired forms 



*Two years old. The one at right entire ; the one at left, cut at one year, shows 

 growth of lateralroots. 



tFrom Photograph by H. H. Hume, Fla Ag'\ Experiment Station. 



