ON THE HICKORY NUT 
bearing, and in particular to persistent bearing. 
So the orchards that have recently been started 
are stocked with trees that may be expected to 
bear crops of nuts in about seven or eight years, 
and that may be depended on to produce a crop 
each year with reasonable certainty. But as to 
both time of bearing and regularity and abundance 
of production, there is still opportunity for much 
improvement. 
Doubtless improved varieties may be secured 
through mere selection by raising seedlings from 
the nuts grown on trees that were especially good 
bearers. But it is probable, also, that the full pos- 
sibility of the pecan will not be realized until ex- 
tensive series of hybridizing experiments have 
been carried out. 
I have spoken of the natural hybrids between 
the pecan and the shagbark hickory. Hitherto, no 
extensive experiments in hybridizing these species 
have been carried out, although it is possible that 
some of the wild varieties of pecans that have been 
brought into the orchard were natural hybrids. 
It is to be hoped that experiments along this 
line will be taken up in the near future, but, of 
course, many years will be required before notable 
results can be attained. 
It is desirable, also, to attempt hybridizing the 
pecan with the butternut and walnut, and with the 
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