THE PECAN. 23 



seed; that the first crop will be 4 pounds; the second, lo; the third, 

 20; the fourth, 43; the fifth, 74; and the sixth, 100 pounds. Trees 

 may be set 50 feet apart, giving 17 to the acre; 35 feet apart, giving 

 35 to the acre; or even closer if on poor land where fertilizers must 

 be used. The planting distance will be determined by the character 

 of the soil and plans for interculture while the trees are small. In 

 the alluvial river bottoms of Louisiana and other Gulf States, where 

 the pecan finds all conditions exactly suited to its best growth, trees 

 should not be planted less than 50 feet apart and the space between 

 rows cultivated in cotton, or other field crops, until the trees shade 

 the ground too much. Planting in excess of this would prove a 

 serious obstacle to interculture and greatly shorten the time in which 

 it might be carried on. But what is of more importance, indeed of 

 vital importance, too close planting will surely prevent the trees from 

 forming fine, spreading heads and so yielding the much larger quan- 



PECANS IN HUSKS 



tity of nuts which trees permitted to develop naturally are certain 

 to give. Recent expressions of practical growers are decidedly 

 opposed to close planting with the thought of "heading in" the tops; 

 and the most successful planters favor permanent planting with 

 abundant space for perfect development. Nevertheless, if as many 

 as 35 trees to the acre were set at first on light, sandy soil, and it 

 should be found necessary, after a time, to cut out part of them to 

 prevent crowding and the consequent injury to the trees, those left 

 would undoubtedly be benefited by having more room in which to 

 expand, both above and below ground. The question of reducing the 

 number of trees in an orchard is purely one for the skilled horticul- 

 turist to decide. It requires more courage to cut down large, bearing 

 pecan trees than is possessed by the average grower. Yet, under 

 certain conditions, the axe should be vigorously used, for the gain 

 in growth and yield of the remaining trees will amply reward the 

 owner for his seeming sacrifice. 



The question of profit obtainable in pecan growing is of much 

 interest to those who are being attracted to this business. The 

 reports just quoted show that 24 cents is the average price for which 

 the largest, wild nuts are sold. These are good nuts, some of them, 

 but not for a moment to be compared with the finest of the thin- 



