36 Pecan-Gi^owing 



height and diameter of pecan seedlings is fairly constant. 

 When caliper measurements are taken about two inches above 

 the soil, the following will approximate the averages, the 

 heights recorded in inches, and the diameters in sixteenths of 

 inches : 



Diam. of seedling, 

 Height of seedling, sixteenths 



inches. of an inch 



10 to 14 5 



14 to 18 6 



18 to 22 7 



22 to 26 8 



26 to 30 9 



30 to 34 10 



34 to 38 11 



38 to 42 12 



Soils for pecan nurseries are almost as variable as those 

 for growing the trees in an orchard. However, a deep sandy 

 loam with a clay subsoil, highly retentive of moisture, is pre- 

 ferred. Heavy tenacious soils should be avoided as much of 

 the grafting and tree digging is performed during the winter 

 when there is a high degree of moisture. Soils of this kind, 

 if worked while wet, become very hard and are difficult to 

 handle in growing nursery stock. On the other hand, a deep 

 • loose sandy soil is not desirable because the young trees are 

 likely to send down a very long tap-root which is practically 

 void of lateral roots. A soil somewhat intermediate between 

 these two extremes is more suitable. A sandy loam well filled 

 with decaying organic matter and having a clay subsoil not 

 more than two feet from the surface can be worked at almost 

 any time of the year and will produce trees with a considerable 

 number of lateral roots. A young tree with a good lateral 

 root system transplants more successfully than one with very 

 few lateral roots. (See Fig. 3.) 



