26 Pecan-Growing 



would be allowed to retake the land, though on thousands of 

 acres the pecan timber was totally destroyed or was some- 

 times left in a close fringe along the streams. 



A large percentage of this timber in Texas and Oklahoma 

 is still owned by persons, principally live-stock men, who are 

 not directly interested in the pecan, and who pay little or no 

 attention to its development. Usually they sell the crop on 

 the trees in the summer or early fall at a low price to some- 

 one who harvests without regard, as a rule, to the welfare 

 of the trees, and who generally leaves from one-third to one- 

 half of the nuts unharvested. 



CARE OF THE NATR^ GRO\^S 



Very little attempt has been made to improve these native 

 groves. They usually stand in pasture land where the trees 

 have to struggle against animals and plants of every descrip- 

 tion, as well as against the elements. In many places, the 

 native pecan trees, even when all other timber is destroyed, 

 grow two or three times too thick for best results. Often trees 

 that are barren and those that produce nuts too small to be 

 of commercial value are allowed to crowd out those yielding 

 valuable nuts. These groves should be given a better chance. 

 The first step in their improvement should be to remove all 

 underbrush and trees of other species. The pecan trees should 

 then be examined carefully in a good bearing year and all 

 barren specimens and those producing unprofitable crops of 

 nuts removed, in case they are close enough to interfere with 

 some good producing tree. If they are standing by them- 

 selves and are of suitable size, they should be worked over to 

 an improved variety. 



When it is practical, the land should gradually be put into 



